Pyramid of Caius Cestius
Steep white-marble pyramid tomb from the first century BC, absorbed into the ancient city walls.
Location
About this audio guide
This guide to the Pyramid of Caius Cestius in Rome opens with the will of a Roman magistrate who died around 12 BC demanding a steep, Egyptian-style pyramid tomb rather than the usual rites. It follows the strange clause he attached for his heir, Lucius Pontius Mela, and the tight deadline written into the inheritance itself, plus the dispute over the costly cloths meant for the burial chamber. Look up at the sharp angle of the marble as you listen for how fast the whole thing came together.
This audio guide was created using AI.
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