Roman pyramids

[Eleatic Guest]

We know that there was a craze for all things Egyptian in the early imperial period. Think of the obelisks which were transported off to Rome almost immediately after the Augustan occupation of the country.

Were pyramids like Cestius' just eccentric exeptions from Roman funeral practices or did they enjoy somewhat more popularity? I was surprised to read that Rome harboured at least four at one time:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_of_Cestius
2. http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meta_Romuli (even larger than the one by Cestius!)
3.+4. According to Cestius-Pyramide, two more Roman pyramids were standing at Piazza del Popolo.

Any more examples?

[Eleatic Guest]

Carla Alfano: Pyramids in Rome. In: Göttinger Miszellen. Vol. 121, Göttingen 1991, p. 7-17 is a good starting point.

[PhilusEstilius]

The thing I found most interesting about the Cestius Pyramid is just how many of the cats of Rome live there now, but what is also of interest is just how high the level of the modern streets are above it.

Then where you mention that Rome had some four of them at one time if they were inside the City they would well be eccentric exceptions out of popularity for as also mentioned they would not have been for funeral practice within the City limits.