Aureae Litterae

Abstract

Over the many years of his work at the German Archaeological Institute in Madrid,
Uwe Städtler has documented and reconstructed quite a number of epigraphic monuments,
including monumental inscriptions in bronze (often gold-plated). In ancient times and to
this day, bronze inscriptions have often been referred to as aureae litterae, but caution should
be exercised here. A literary reflection on resplendent gilt bronze monumental inscriptions
appears to be contained in a note by Velleius Paterculus about the tituli of those peoples
subdued by Augustus and required to pay tribute, whose names were presumably written on
the friezes of the porticoes surrounding the Forum of Augustus.