Pyramid of Cestius

The Pyramid of Caius Cestius is the lone remaining structure from a group of monuments built in Rome around the first century B.C. when the style that emerged following the conquest of Egypt in 31 BC had an impact on tomb building.

Things to Know Before Visit Pyramid of Caius Cestius

History

Rome’s sole remaining pyramid is situated on the edge of the Testaccio neighborhood, right across the Piramide train station, next to the city’s Non-Catholic Cemetery.

The 36-meter-tall monument was erected in the first century BC as a tomb for Caius Cestius, a powerful Roman magistrate.

Caius Cestius, a Roman politician and member of the priestly college of epuloni, stipulated in his testament that his pyramid-shaped mausoleum should be built in 330 days. Between the years of the introduction of the law against the ostentation of luxury, which prevented the installation of some precious tapestries inside the cell, and that of the death of Agrippa, son-in-law of Augustus, who was listed among the beneficiaries of the bequest, the tomb was constructed along the Via Ostiense. This dates its construction between the years of 18 and 12 BC.

Later, the Pyramid was incorporated into the walls that the emperor Aurelian built between 272 and 279 on his initiative. The structure, which rises 36.40 meters high and has a square base of 29.50 meters on each side, is constructed of a brick curtain and cement work around the perimeter. Its exterior is covered in slabs of Luni marble.

According to Egyptian tradition, the burial chamber, which is around 23 square meters in size and has a barrel vault, was sealed up at the time of burial. The cinerary urn and a substantial piece of the decoration were lost as a result of the first violation of the tomb, which most likely occurred in the Middle Ages through a tunnel excavated on the northern side.

The walls are frescoed with a decorative pattern of panels, where figures of nymphs alternating with lustrous vases on a light background. Four winged Victories holding crowns and ribbons are depicted above, at the corners of the vault. In the middle, there must have previously been an apotheosis scene depicting the patron of the sepulcher.

The Archaeological Superintendency of Rome completed the restoration of the sepulchral cell in 2001. A subsequent renovation started in 2012 and was finished in 2015.

Interesting Facts

1. The Pyramid of Cestius is built into the Aurelian Walls, and an inscription on its white marble façade states that its construction took 330 days.
2. Yuzo Yagi, a Japanese businessman, donated €2 million toward the monument’s two-year, extensive restoration project, which began in 2013.
3. In addition to cleaning the exterior, the project included restoring the frescoes painted in the inner chambers of the pyramid whose grounds are nowadays home to a cat sanctuary.
   
4. There were other pyramids in Rome besides the Caius Cestius Pyramid. One was along Via Della Conciliazione, while the other was situated where the twin churches of Piazza del Popolo are now. It was considered the Meta Romuli. In 1499, it was demolished by Pope Alexander VI Borgia, on the occasion of the imminent Jubilee. It was in that period that the Pyramid of Cestius was mistakenly identified as the Meta Remi, the tomb of Remo, the twin brother of Romolo.
5. The inscription on the southeast side of the pyramid reads: “Gaius Cestius Epulo, son of Lucius, of the Poblilian district, praetor, tribune of the people, an official of the public banquets. According to his will, this work was completed in three hundred and thirty days; it was executed by his heirs L. Pontus Mela, son of Publius, of the Claudian district, and his freedman Pothus”

Author: Kate Zusmann

I have lived in the Eternal City for the past 12 years. They say every angle of Rome has its history, and I'm here to tell you about the most intriguing historical facts and city legends. :)

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