Pyramid is a greek word meaning 'fire-shaped'. Its architecure was introduced in Rome after the conquering 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 wearing egyptian haicuts and jewellery whereas the obelisks, brough over, embellished the squares and the public areas such as the Circus Maximus and the Meridian of Augustus. Caius Cestius, a member of the Septemviri Epulones (an important college devoted to organize some religious festivities) even requested in his will a Pyramid built in 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 the Pope Alexander VII Chigi in the mid 1600s ordered its opening, 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, is 36 meters high and was built in 12 BC after 333 days. Restored by Pope Alexander VII in 1663 (without leaving his name on it), was recently whitened in 2014, after 327 days of restoration and two million euro cost, thanks to the donation of the Japanese fashion entrepreneur Yuzo Yagi. ARIGATO!
