Calligraphy

Origins

Calligraphy originates from the greek words "kallos", meaning beauty and "graphein" meaning to write, thus calligraphy means beautiful handwriting.

Looking at only one part of this definition, that being the act of handwriting, calligraphy can be seen as originating back to the very beginnings of humankind. That is, calligraphy or the act of handwriting began when ancient humans would scrape symbols onto rocks in the hopes of communicating with others.

Looking beyond the act of handwriting, onto the more artistic elements, calligraphy can also be seen as originating in Ancient Rome. Ancient Rome consisted of the more decorative form of handwriting which included words that were painted on walls, carved on stone or written in cursive. In other words, calligraphy in Ancient Rome didn't just focus on the words themselves but the artistic and decorative presentation of these words. .

Elements

Calligraphy can be presented in various forms, styles and types which depend on both the writers themselves and the genre and/or topic the writer is focusing on. However, regardless of these differences there are some qualities that all calligraphy must have. This includes clear, legible words and letters which allow what is written to be read and received by others. However, calligraphy goes beyond simple legibility to the more artistic elements, much like Ancient Rome did, such as structure or ink which makes the writing unique. The purpose of such artistic elements can be seen as a means to make the handwriting both harmonious and beautiful so that readers can be further enticed to read what is written.