Compared to the real, Egyptian pyramids, the Pyramid of Cestius is too steep and too pointed. This explains why in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, pictures of ancient Egypt also contained too pointed monuments: the only place where European artists could see a pyramid, was at Rome, and Cestius' mausoleum did not have the right proportions. The picture to the left shows a mosaic from the San Marco in Venice with a scene from the Biblical story of Joseph in Egypt. The artist has tried to make it look really Egyptian, but his pyramids are clearly based on the Pyramid of Cestius.
Egypt pyramids
ancient Egypt
ancient pyramids
Egypt pyramids
ancient Egypt pyramids
