Pyramid is a greek word meaning ‘fire-shaped’. Its architecure was introduced in Rome after the conquest of Egypt in 31 BC and the arrival to Rome of Cleopatra. The Romans were fascinated by this ancient and advanced civilization and an Egyptian fashion spread out, especially in the capital. Roman women walked around showing Egyptian haircuts and wearing eastern jewellery whereas the obelisks which served as solar calendars, once shipped over, embellished the squares and the public areas: the ones in the Circus Maximus and the Meridian of Augustus were the most famous.
Caius Cestius, a member of the Septemviri Epulones (an important college devoted to organize the religious festivities) requested in his will a Pyramid made of Carrara marble to guard the urn with his ashes! And when He died, all was done and the door ‘walled’ not to let anybody in. Unfortunately We do not know much about the contents of the tomb since Pope Alexander VII Chigi in the mid 1600s ordered its opening and the central room was found empty. A couple of corridors had already been digged by the treasure hunters but today, using the same corridor of Pope Alexander VII, we can admire part of the original fresco decorations.
The Pyramid has a square base of 26 meters per side, it is 36 meters high and was built in 12 BC after 333 days of work. Restored by Pope Alexander VII in 1663 (who decided not to leave his name on it), it was recently whitened in 2014, after 327 days of restoration: the two million euro cost were donated by the Japanese fashion entrepreneur Yuzo Yagi. ARIGATO!
Maurizio Rome Guide 