A detail of the Pyramid of Cestius (Piramide Cestia) in Rome, a 2,000-year-old Roman pyramid in the Italian capital, pyramid, which was built in 18-12 BC as a tomb for a wealthy Roman, Gaius Cestius, The pyramid is covered in Carrara marble and was built following Rome's conquest of Egypt in 31 BC, which started off a trend for ancient Egypt. The 23-square-metre frescoed burial chamber at the heart of the pyramid was sealed when it was built but was raided in the Middle Ages.