Marcus Traianus

The Legacy of Imperial Capitals

The famous “Capital Trajana” lettering (the inscription at the base of the column bearing its name, erected in 114 A.D.) is usually regarded as the classic example that defines Imperial Capital forms. However, long before this, there were already countless examples of Greco-Roman epigraphy of exceptional execution, as evidenced by the monumental inscriptions from 2 B.C. carved in the Portico di Gaio e Lucio Cesari, in front of the façade of the Basilica Emilia in the Roman Forum, erected by Augustus and dedicated to his two grandsons for propaganda and dynastic purposes.

A Symbol of Majesty & Power

More than two thousand years have passed, yet the forms of these letters remain part of our daily lives, thanks to their readability and beauty. Their enduring presence is likely also due to their added semantic value, which has made them an icon full of symbolism—expressing majesty, monumentality, order, and universal power.

Studied by the Masters

Numerous authors, calligraphers, and designers have studied this legacy, including Giovanni Francesco Cresci, Edward Catich, L. C. Evetts, Armando Petrucci, Carol Twombly, John Stevens, and Claude Mediavilla, to name only a few.

A Modern Interpretation with Carolingian Roots

The Marcus Traianus font is a refined interpretation of the two aforementioned models and includes small caps, lowercase (Carolingian forms), and a set of Indo-Arabic numerals in addition to Roman figures and diacritics for Central European languages. Marcus Traianus is available in three weights—Regular, Bold, and ExtraBold—and one slanted style: Regular Italic.