A view of the restored Pyramid of Cestius in Rome,Italy on February 3, 2016. Eternal City's only surviving pyramid dating from conquest of Egypt looks to attract more visitors after extensive clean-up funded by Japanese clothing magnate. Archaeologists are eager to show off the monument, constructed some 2,000 years ago as the burial tomb for a Roman praetor, or magistrate, named Caius Cestius. The pyramid is one of four known to have been built in ancient Roman days, but the only one to survive until today. Their construction reflected a fashion for Egyptian style in Rome after the conquest o

• Contributor: Abaca Press / Alamy Stock Photo
• Image ID: 2DHNX4W
• File size: 32.8 MB (2.3 MB Compressed download)
• Releases: Model - no | Property - no
• Dimensions: 4108 x 2788 px | 34.8 x 23.6 cm | 13.7 x 9.3 inches | 300dpi
• Date taken: 5 February 2016
• Photographer: ABACAPRESS

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A view of the restored Pyramid of Cestius in Rome, Italy on February 3, 2016. Eternal City's only surviving pyramid dating from conquest of Egypt looks to attract more visitors after extensive clean-up funded by Japanese clothing magnate. Archaeologists are eager to show off the monument, constructed some 2, 000 years ago as the burial tomb for a Roman praetor, or magistrate, named Caius Cestius. The pyramid is one of four known to have been built in ancient Roman days, but the only one to survive until today. Their construction reflected a fashion for Egyptian style in Rome after the conquest of Egypt, but the simple, frescoed figures on the chamber's walls were done in the style of Pompeii, the ancient Roman city near modern-day Naples. Although soaring 36 meters , the pyramid draws few tourists. Decades of grime blackened the creamy white Carrara marble exterior of the monument near a traffic-clogged intersection and a subway station. The pyramid's base is below street level since the metropolis has been built up over the centuries, so many hurry by without realizing the monument's height. Visitors must crouch as they make their way through a narrow corridor leading to the burial chamber. What happened to Caius Cestius' remains is unknown. Inside the chamber, visitors can see an upward-sloping tunnel. The restoration has bolstered theories the tunnel was dug out in medieval times, possibly by grave-robbers. Japanese Yuzo Yagi, who heads a clothing and textile company, provided 2 million euros toward the restoration.Tours, including of the frescoed burial chamber, are being given twice a month by reservation. Photo by Eric Vandeville/ABACAPRESS.COM