Italian Notebook

Rome's own Pyramid

Rome - While they did figure out how to transport obelisks across the Mediterranean, moving an entire pyramid seems to have been beyond even the clever Romans. Stories and memories of pyramids however obviously were brought back by legionaries returning from their campaigns abroad. How do we know? Drive along Via Ostiense, the consular road that leads to Ostia, Rome's original port on the coast (paving of the ancient road visible at the bottom of photo 2) and you might literally run into one.

Gaius Cestius Epulo, likely to have served in Augustus' campaign that conquered Egypt in 30 B.C. and who went on to become a wealthy and important magistrate, obviously thought that it would be just swell to be buried in one. Not the same shape as the more ancient Giza pyramids most are familiar with, this narrower and taller pyramid is similar to the newer Upper Nile Nubian pyramids. The latter however are all in ruins, but not Cestius' . . he had the benefit of superior Roman concrete building techniques available to him. So much so that when Rome's Aurelian walls were built about 250 years later, they simply incorporated the pyramid into it, and there it still stands.

Tip: Best seen from the gardens (photo 3) of the "Cimitero per Non-Cattolici", literally Cemetery for Non-Catholics, aka the Protestant Cemetery.

--contributed by GB, Editor, Italian Notebook

Dear Readers, apologies for yesterday's note going out twice. We agree, Puntarelle are interesting . . . but not that interesting. Regards, Ed.

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