Giro d’Italia 2025 Stage 9 Gubbio Siena (181 km)

IF YOU CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT THE ROMAN EMPIRE

Gubbio, known in ancient times as Iguvium, was an important city in Regio VI Umbria. Long before Roman domination, it was the center of the Umbrians, an Italic people with a rich culture.

Around the 3rd century BCE, the Umbrians of Iguvium created an extraordinary set of bronze tablets, now called the Eugubine Tables (Tabulae Iguvinae). These seven bronze plates, discovered in the 15th century but dating back to Roman times, contain ritual laws and religious ceremonies of the ancient Umbrian priests.

Legend says that the high priest of Iguvium, Aule Cluentius, received a divine vision from the gods Jupiter and Mars, instructing him to preserve the sacred laws of the city. To ensure these laws were never forgotten or lost, he ordered the creation of the bronze tablets inscribed with the rituals necessary to keep the city protected and prosperous.

The tablets were buried deep beneath the Palazzo dei Consoli in Gubbio, guarded by secret priestly families for centuries. According to the tale, these sacred laws had the power to bring rain to the fields, protect against invaders, and ensure justice among the people.

During Roman times, even after Iguvium became part of the empire, the city’s priests continued to perform rituals from the tables, blending Umbrian tradition with Roman religion. The careful preservation of these texts shows how Gubbio balanced its ancient roots with the broader Roman world.

The Eugubine Tables remain one of the most important archaeological discoveries from Umbria, offering a rare glimpse into the religious and civic life of ancient Italic peoples.