In the structure of the clathrate-type silicides M8Si46and MxSi136(M ˭ Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ba; 0 ≤ x ≤ 24), the silicon atoms form 3D covalent sublattices which correspond to the association of two kinds of fullerene-like cages : Si20and Si24, and Si20and Si28respectively. The M atoms are trapped at the centre of all or part of the two different cages and are distributed according to a A15 and a C15 type sublattice, respectively. Due to their clathrate-type structure, these silicides exhibit original and interesting physical properties. The two structures are described and a short review is given on the previous and recent developments on these cage-like compounds.