Pyramid of Cestius
1 min readSep 25, 2018
The Pyramid of Cestius on Piazza di Porta San Paolo was integrated into the Aurelian Wall along with Porta San Paolo (the ancient Porta Ostiensis). Gaius Cestius Epulonius was praetor, people’s tribune and a member of the septemviri epulones, the council of seven responsible for religious banquets in Rome. This monument on the road to Ostia, based on Egyptian models, was his tomb. The pyramid, which dates from 12 BC, measures 22m/72ft on each side and is 27m/89ft high. It was built of travertine stone and clad in snow- white marble from Carrara, the former Luni. It was erected in 330 days, as the inscription records. The tip is said to have been gilded. Inside the pyramid is a 6 x 4m/20 x 13ft burial chamber with remains of murals.
