Uncial script

The uncial uncial or (Latin Uncialis ) is a majuscule script, which probably originated from the older Roman cursive. The uncial was written with the reed pen on parchment.

Development and dissemination

The uncial lived in the 4th century to the 6th century for books ( codices ) and, moreover, was used as a display font. The name of Jean Mabillon uncial introduced in the 17th century by he probably misunderstood a letter place at Jerome, in this about the " great customs " (Latin uncia, one twelfth feet, 1 inch) complains letters.

There have been preserved over 300 manuscripts of the New Testament in Greek uncial script. Completely preserved, for example, the Greek manuscripts Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus.

Detection and classification

Characteristic features are the rounded, sans serif letters and some upper and lower lengths. However, these are not highly developed. In contrast to Capitalis the uncial is predominantly a book script. We distinguish three basic forms of uncial:

• Greek uncial (4th -15th centuries)
• Latin uncial (4th to 8th centuries )
• Gothic uncial ( 4th century: Script to play the East Germanic Gothic language - not to be confused with the writings of the " Gothic " age in the Western Middle Ages)