Logo & Typography

The Loeb Classical Library logo shows Athena, goddess of wisdom, enthroned with her shield (here embossed with the initials LCL for Loeb Classical Library). Nike, goddess of victory, stands in her hand, holding a wreath. The image is modeled on a Greek coin from Lampsacus used from about 297 to 282 BC.

The Loeb Classical Library rejuvenation program involves not only more new and revised print volumes but also improved production. Dissatisfaction with the Greek font we had been using—particularly with the shape of some letters and inconsistent letter spacing—led us to commission a new Greek typeface designed specifically for our needs, which we named ZephGreek and ZephText, in honor of Zeph Stewart (1921–2007), the longtime Trustee of the Loeb Classical Library.

Alex Kaczun, type designer and founder of Type Innovations, was commissioned in 1994 to design the new Greek typeface and fonts, which were based on and modeled after Porson Greek, exclusively for Harvard University Press. Kevin Krugh of Technologies ’N Typography later made adjustments to kerning and breath marks, and converted these fonts to Unicode specifications. In addition, for a crisper type image we now make our printing plates directly from electronic files (instead of photographically). These improved technologies are evident in print Loeb volumes published since 1995, and throughout the digital Library.

In 2016, publication of Early Greek Philosophy (LCL 524–532) prompted us to expand our font set still further to include Syriac, Arabic, Hebrew, and Armenian scripts. The Syriac font Estrangelo Edessa appears courtesy of George Kiraz and Beth Mardutho: The Syriac Institute, © 2002. All Rights Reserved.