Additional source material

• Ancient Library Sources (from Peter Aicher, Rome Alive: A Source Guide to the Ancient City, vol. 1, Bolchazy-Carducci: 2004) [Works cited]

  127. Pyramid of Cestius. Commentary. One of the more curious monuments in Rome is a largely intact pyramid-tomb a short distance south of the Aventine on the road to Ostia, abutting the Protestant Cemetery today. It was built by one Cestius, who died in Augustus's reign sometime before the death of Agrippa in 12 BC, since the latter is mentioned as one of Cestius's heirs in a statue inscription. We know little or nothing more about him than the information given in the inscriptions on the east and west side of the pyramid [127.1]. Apparently he shared some of the fascination with Egypt or Nubia (annexed in 31 and 24 BC respectively) that led to the importation of obelisks in the same period. The tomb has a brick-faced concrete core, but is sheathed in a veneer of Luna marble. A passageway leads into the small burial chamber that was decorated with frescoes of a later century. In the C3 AD the tomb was incorporated into the Aurelian Walls. 127. Pyramid of Cestius. Sources. 127.1. [Inscription on the tomb] C(aius) CESTIUS L(uci) F(ilius) POB(lilia tribu) EPULO PR(aetor) TR(ibunus) / PL(ebis) VIIVIR EPULONUM OPUS APSOLUTUM (est) EX TESTAMENTO DIEBUS CCCXXX / ARBITRATU / PONTI P(ubli) F(ili) CLA(udia tribu) MELAE HEREDIS ET POTHI L(iberti). Gaius Cestius Epulo, son of Lucius, from the tribe Publilia, praetor, plebeian tribune, one of the seven priests in charge of religious banquets [is buried here]. This work was completed in 330 days, in accordance with the will of the deceased, under the direction of Pontius Mela, Publius's son and heir from the tribe Claudia, and of the freedman Pothos. ILS 917 = CIL 6.1374