Gubbio The Bronze Tablets of Iguvium

Gubbio (=ancient Iguvium) was an important town of the Umbrian people in the 3rd century BCE.

In the 15th century, 7 bronze tablets were discovered near the Roman theater of Iguvium

Written between 3rd and 1st centuries BCE in the Umbrian language, first using the Umbrian alphabet based on Etruscan, then using the Roman alphabet, the tablets record the acts and rituals of the Atiedian Brothers, 12 priests of Jupiter who were important figures in Iguvium

The Iguvine tablets are the most important documents of the Umbrian language in existence. They are not Etruscan, but are largely written using Etruscan letters: 7 ½ sides are in Etruscan writing, 4 ½ sides are in Latin writing

Tablets VI and VII record in detail the ritual actions such as circumambulations, libations, kneeding, and dancing, and contains all the prayers and the other augural formulae. The older tablet I gives a more concise record.