Pyramid of Cestius
Memorial
Tomb
The pyramid of Cestius - Piramide di Caio Cestio
A grandiose monument to the Egyptian model
The pyramid of Cestius is located on the Piazza di Porta San Paolo. Together with the Porta San Paolo (formerly Porta Ostiensis) it forms a fixed part of the Aurelian city walls. Its builder, Gaius Cestius Epulonius, was praetor and tribune of the people and with this grave built himself a monument modelled after the Egyptian style. Built in 12 B.C. on the exit road to Ostia, the 22-metre long and 27-metre-high pyramid today still shines in white marble. According to legend, the top of the pyramid was golden in ancient times. Inside the pyramid of Cestius there is a 6 by 4-metre grave chamber with remains of wall paintings.
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