Editing Pyramid of Cestius (section)

==Physical attributes==

[[File:Piramide di Caio Cestio 06.jpg|thumb|Detail of the pyramid]]
The pyramid was built about 18–12 BC as a [[tomb]] for Gaius Cestius, a magistrate and member of one of the four great [[Collegium (ancient Rome)|religious corporations]] in Rome, the ''[[Epulones|Septemviri Epulonum]]''. It is of brick-faced concrete covered with slabs of white marble standing on a [[travertine]] foundation. The pyramid measures 100 [[Pes (unit)|Roman feet]] (29.6&nbsp;m) square at the base and stands 125 Roman feet (37&nbsp;m) high.<ref name="claridge">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xtoVDAAAQBAJ&q=%22Pyramid+of+Cestius%22 |last=Amanda |first=Claridge |date=1998 |title=Rome: An Oxford Archaeological Guide |edition=1st |location=Oxford, UK |publisher=Oxford University Press |pages=59, 364&ndash;366 |isbn=0-19-288003-9}}</ref>

[[File:Pyramid Caius Cestius room inside.jpg|thumb|upright|Pyramid Caius Cestius room inside]]
In the interior is the burial chamber, a simple [[barrel-vault]]ed rectangular cavity measuring 5.95&nbsp;metres long, 4.10&nbsp;m wide and 4.80&nbsp;m high. When opened in 1660, the chamber was found to be decorated with frescoes, which were recorded by [[Pietro Santo Bartoli]]. Only scant traces of these frescoes survive, and no trace of any other contents. The tomb had been sealed when it was built, with no exterior entrance, but had been plundered at some time thereafter, probably during antiquity. Until the end of restoration works in 2015, it was not possible for visitors to access the interior,<ref name="claridge" /> except by special permission typically only granted to scholars. Since the beginning of May 2015, the pyramid is open to the public every second and fourth Saturday each month. Visitors must arrange their visit in advance.