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

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 Gothic–rune-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. Keywords: Typography, Cultural Heritage, Epigraphy, Digital Font Design, Bodrum Castle