Aïda est en effet un produit de mon travail; c'est moi qui ai d#x00E9;cidé le Vice-Roi à en ordonner la représentation; Aïda, en un mot, est sortie de mon cerveau, et il me semble qu'avant d'en disposer aussi complètement, on me devait au moins la déférence de m'en écnire (Mariette, 1871a).

Auguste Mariette, born in Boulogne-sur-Mer on 11 February 1821, is one of the most endearing characters of Egyptology. Very far ahead of his time, he did all he could to prevent Egypt being further plundered by archaeologists, and to enable it to learn how to conserve its treasures and use them to its advantage. He was given the title of Bey after his discovery of the Memphis Serapeum, and was later raised to the high rank of Pacha, a rare distinction for foreigners, on 5 June 1879. He died on 18 January 1881, and was buried at Boulaq, afterwards Cairo. A monument in his honour was set up in his native town which held glittering celebrations on the centenary of his death.