Digitizing Cultural Heritage Through Typography: The Case of the Knights Hospitaller Inscriptions at Bodrum Castle

Sinem Ünal Gerdan

Makale detayları

Digitizing Cultural Heritage Through Typography: The Case of the Knights Hospitaller Inscriptions at Bodrum Castle

Yazarlar:

Sinem Ünal Gerdan

Yayıncı:

Kütahya Dumlupinar University

Ana Başlıklar:

Güzel Sanatlar | Görsel Sanatlar (Diğer)

Dergi:

D-Sanat Vol.1 Issue 10, pp.538-557

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358619

pISSN:

2757-8011

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 This article examines the documentation and digitization of inscriptions from the Knights Hospitaller period at Bodrum Castle through a typographic perspective. The epigraphic inscriptions are considered not only as historical records but also as visual forms carrying typographic aesthetics. The research was conducted using a Research by Design approach, encompassing the processes of photographic documentation of the inscriptions, analysis of letterform variations, reproduction through vector drawing, and transformation into an open-source typeface design. Findings demonstrate that the geometric structure, symbolic signs, and Gothicrune-like aesthetic of the inscriptions can be adapted to contemporary typographic norms. Accordingly, the Rhodes Font developed within this study is proposed as a contemporary digital typeface that preserves historical fidelity while adhering to the principles of legibility and accessibility. The study establishes an interdisciplinary bridge between typographic research and cultural heritage preservation, offering a model for future multilingual, three-dimensional, and augmented-reality-supported applications.

 This article examines the documentation and digitization of inscriptions from the Knights Hospitaller period at Bodrum Castle through a typographic perspective. The epigraphic inscriptions are considered not only as historical records but also as visual forms carrying typographic aesthetics. The research was conducted using a Research by Design approach, encompassing the processes of photographic documentation of the inscriptions, analysis of letterform variations, reproduction through vector drawing, and transformation into an open-source typeface design. Findings demonstrate that the geometric structure, symbolic signs, and Gothicrune-like aesthetic of the inscriptions can be adapted to contemporary typographic norms. Accordingly, the Rhodes Font developed within this study is proposed as a contemporary digital typeface that preserves historical fidelity while adhering to the principles of legibility and accessibility. The study establishes an interdisciplinary bridge between typographic research and cultural heritage preservation, offering a model for future multilingual, three-dimensional, and augmented-reality-supported applications.

 This article examines the documentation and digitization of inscriptions from the Knights Hospitaller period at Bodrum Castle through a typographic perspective. The epigraphic inscriptions are considered not only as historical records but also as visual forms carrying typographic aesthetics. The research was conducted using a Research by Design approach, encompassing the processes of photographic documentation of the inscriptions, analysis of letterform variations, reproduction through vector drawing, and transformation into an open-source typeface design. Findings demonstrate that the geometric structure, symbolic signs, and Gothicrune-like aesthetic of the inscriptions can be adapted to contemporary typographic norms. Accordingly, the Rhodes Font developed within this study is proposed as a contemporary digital typeface that preserves historical fidelity while adhering to the principles of legibility and accessibility. The study establishes an interdisciplinary bridge between typographic research and cultural heritage preservation, offering a model for future multilingual, three-dimensional, and augmented-reality-supported applications.

 Bu makale, Bodrum Kalesinde Rodos Şövalyeleri dönemine ait yazıtların tipografik bir bakış açısıyla belgelenmesini ve dijital ortama aktarılmasını konu almaktadır. Epigrafik yazıtlar yalnızca tarihsel belgeler değil, aynı zamanda tipografik estetik taşıyan görsel formlar olarak ele alınmıştır. Araştırma, tasarım araştırması Research by Design yaklaşımıyla yürütülmüş; yazıtların fotoğrafik belgelenmesi, harf varyasyonlarının analiz edilmesi, vektörel çizimle yeniden üretilmesi ve açık kaynak bir yazı karakteri tasarımına dönüştürülmesi süreçlerini kapsamıştır. Bulgular, yazıtların geometrik yapısı, sembolik işaretleri ve gotikrune benzeri estetiğinin çağdaş tipografi normlarına uyarlanabileceğini göstermektedir. Bu doğrultuda geliştirilen Rhodes Font, tarihî sadakati korurken okunurluk ve erişilebilirlik ilkelerine uyum sağlayan çağdaş bir dijital yazı karakteri olarak önerilmektedir. Çalışma, tipografi araştırmaları ile kültürel mirasın korunması arasında disiplinlerarası bir köprü kurmakta ve gelecekte çok dilli, üç boyutlu ve artırılmış gerçeklik destekli uygulamalar için bir model sunmaktadır.

Makale detayları

Digitizing Cultural Heritage Through Typography: The Case of the Knights Hospitaller Inscriptions at Bodrum Castle

Yazarlar:

Sinem Ünal Gerdan

Yayıncı:

Kütahya Dumlupinar University

Ana Başlıklar:

Güzel Sanatlar | Görsel Sanatlar (Diğer)

Dergi:

D-Sanat Vol.1 Issue 10, pp.538-557

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358619

pISSN:

2757-8011

Typography

Cultural Heritage

Epigraphy

Digital Font Design

Bodrum CastleTipografi

Kültürel Miras

Epigrafi

Dijital Yazı Tasarımı

Bodrum Kalesi

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Sinem Ünal Gerdan

Yayıncı: Kütahya Dumlupinar University

Ana Başlıklar: Güzel Sanatlar | Görsel Sanatlar (Diğer)

Dergi: D-Sanat Vol.1 Issue 10, pp.538-557

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 9/2025

Belge Dili: İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.): 2001358619

pISSN: 2757-8011

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Sinem Ünal Gerdan

Yayıncı:

Kütahya Dumlupinar University

Ana Başlıklar:

Güzel Sanatlar | Görsel Sanatlar (Diğer)

Dergi:

D-Sanat Vol.1 Issue 10, pp.538-557

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358619

pISSN:

2757-8011