CESTIUS PYRAMID

39,50 m isthe side of the square base, 29,40m height

Rome has a pyramid; one of its subway stations is even named after it. It is the “Piramide Cestia�, the tomb of Caius Cestius, who died in 12 BC. Cestius spent time in Egypt and ordered that his slave should be freed upon his death, but not before they constructed his pyramid in the final 330 days of service to their master. The structure is 36 metres (120 ft) high and may be a familiar sight for anyone who has taken a taxi ride between the airport and the centre of Rome – the route normally taking you past this pyramid, which is illuminated by night. It is built of a very firm composition of mortar and small stones, faced with tablets of white marble. The original entrance was by means of an inclined shaft about halfway up the northern side of the Pyramid. This shaft (opened in the 7th century AD) led straight to the centre of the vault, covering the grave-chamber. The interior walls were decorated with stuccoes and fresco paintings divided in panels by means of painted candelabra that framed female figures. Impressive as it is and intriguing as it is to find a pyramid in the heart of Rome, unfortunately, the pyramid itself is not displayed to its full potential; part of it sits lower than street level and a wall has been built right onto two sides of the pyramid, to enclose the park area behind.

quote from Phillip Coppens http://www.philipcoppens.com/nexus07_2.html