“Culture does not merely say who you are. It says who you are in relation to others. It states proximities as well as differences'' - Andrew Wallace-Hadrill.

In this paper, I will consider in what ways the pyramid of Cestius in Rome can be seen as a physical manifestation of the cultural meeting between Rome and Egypt in antiquity. I will give an account of the pyramid of Cestius as a monument and explore who Cestius was as a person. This will give way to an exploration of the materiality and shaping of the pyramid and will help in an examination of the ancient and present context of the monument. I will also consider the possible sources of inspiration for the monument, and this will lead to a discussion of the dualities that are to be found between the exterior and interior of the pyramid, and the way that this duality may reflect a split identity.

I will also discuss how the pyramid of Cestius can be seen as a monument with an underlying aim to legitimize emperor Augustus’ dominion over Egypt, and the subtle way that Cestius, by latching on to this agenda, also manages to strengthen his own political position.

This line of questioning may lead to a clarification of the intention behind the pyramid of Cestius. It is possible that there might be more to this monument than what meets the eye - perhaps one might even see this pyramid as a bridge-building gesture between Egypt and Rome.