Pyramid of Cestius, Ancient pyramid tomb in Rome, Italy
The Pyramid of Cestius is an ancient marble tomb in the southern part of Rome, near Porta San Paolo. The construction reaches about 36 meters (118 feet) in height and contains a small rectangular burial chamber within its concrete core.
Gaius Cestius commissioned the monument between 18 and 12 BC as his burial place, inspired by the Roman conquest of Egypt in 30 BC. Later, the structure became part of the Aurelian Walls, built in the 3rd century AD to protect the city.
Lo cals often call the structure simply " la piramide ," and it serves as a familiar meeting point in the southern part of the city . Visitors notice how the white marble surface contrasts sharply with the darker brick walls that surround it .
The interior can only be visited during scheduled opening times, but the exterior is visible at all times from the adjacent Protestant Cemetery. The best view is from street level at Piazza di Porta San Paolo, where the metro station is located.
The construction took only 330 days, as recorded in an inscription on the eastern side, which was remarkably fast by Roman standards. The steep form differs noticeably from the flatter Egyptian pyramids and resembles more closely the Nubian models from Sudan.
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