Pyramid of Caius Cestius

Interesting facts

1. 1

   The pyramid was completed in 330 days, as specified in the inscription on its exterior.

2. 2

   It is built of concrete faced with white marble, rather than the stone blocks used for Egyptian pyramids.

3. 3

   The tomb was originally intended for a magistrate who served as an epulo, a priest responsible for organizing public banquets.

4. 4

   It is the only surviving pyramid of the several known to have existed in Rome during antiquity.

5. 5

   The burial chamber's frescoes include figures of Nymphs and Victories, reflecting the artistic style popular during the reign of Augustus.

Overview

The Pyramid of Caius Cestius is a rare Roman-era tomb designed in the Egyptian style, standing approximately 36 meters high. Constructed between 18 and 12 BC as a burial chamber for the Roman magistrate Caius Cestius, the structure is faced with white Carrara marble. It was integrated directly into the city's third-century Aurelian Walls, which helped preserve its structural integrity. The interior features a barrel-vaulted burial chamber decorated with frescoes in the third style of Pompeian painting. It is one of the few examples of the short-lived 'Egyptian craze' that swept through Rome following the annexation of Egypt in 30 BC. The structure remains a prominent visual marker at the edge of the Testaccio district.

Insider tips

• Book guided interior tours in advance as access to the burial chamber is restricted.

• Combine your visit with a walk through the adjacent Non-Catholic Cemetery, which is the final resting place of poets John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley.