Pyramid of Caius Cestius Wheelchair Accessible Tours

Among the oldest but perhaps least known monuments of Rome, the Pyramid of Caius Cestius is almost 40 meters high and was built in the I century BC to house the tomb of the praetor Caio Cestio Epulone.

There are some aspects that make the Pyramid of Caius Cestius peculiar such as the more slender shape compared to the typical Egyptian ones, and the fact that it was finished in just 330 days.

This is due to a testamentary order of Caius Cestius Epulone himself who obliged his next of kin to carry it out within that period of time, on pain of losing the considerable inheritance.

The need to finish the work in time was such that the construction of the pyramid ended a few days early.

Touring Pyramid of Caius Cestius

Unusual compared to the classic Roman panoramas, the Pyramid of Caius Cestius is the only example of an oriental-inspired mausoleum still visible in Rome.

The burial chamber located inside is frescoed with female figures alternating with vases, while figures of priestesses and four Nikes are depicted on the barrel vault.

Originally the Pyramid of Caius Cestius was incorporated in an enclosure of tufa blocks with four columns placed at the four corners.

Only two of these are still visible today.

Unlike the classic Egyptian tombs, no luxury goods were found inside the Pyramid of Caius Cestius, this is because during the years of its construction, the Emperor Augustus had promulgated a law forbidding the ostentation of luxury.