Auguste Mariette
The stubborn, pith-helmeted Frenchman who founded Egypt's antiquities service, fought treasure hunters, and unearthed the Serapeum's sacred bull tombs.
1821–1881 (age 60)·French archaeologist and Egyptologist·Birthday: February 11
Biography
Auguste Mariette arrived in Egypt in 1850 on a simple mission to acquire Coptic manuscripts. Instead, he became obsessed with the sand-covered monuments being plundered by collectors. A self-taught scholar with a formidable will, he embarked on a one-man crusade to protect Egypt's past. His first major discovery, the Serapeum of Saqqara—the catacomb of the sacred Apis bulls—catapulted him to fame. Realizing that Egypt's heritage was being systematically looted and exported, he used his growing influence to persuade the Ottoman viceroy, Sa'id Pasha, to establish a national antiquities service and museum in 1858. As its first director, Mariette wielded near-dictatorial power. He issued excavation permits, blocked the export of major finds, and conducted his own digs at sites like Abydos and the Giza plateau. Though his methods were rough by modern standards, his fundamental achievement was monumental: he stopped the hemorrhage of artifacts and established the principle that Egypt's history belonged to Egypt.
#1 When Auguste Was Born
The biggest hits of 1821
Auguste's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1821Born
1826Started school
1834Became a teenager
1837Could drive
1839Could vote
1842Turned 21
1851Turned 30
1861Turned 40
President: Abraham Lincoln
1871Turned 50
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1881Turned 60
President: Chester A. Arthur
Key Achievements
- Founded the Egyptian Antiquities Service (today's Supreme Council of Antiquities) and the first national museum in Cairo in 1858.
- Discovered the Serapeum at Saqqara, the vast underground tomb of the sacred Apis bulls, in 1851.
- Directed major excavations at key sites including Abydos, Karnak, Medinet Habu, and the Giza pyramids.
- Uncovered the famous 'Seated Scribe' statue and the gold treasure of Queen Ahhotep, among thousands of other artifacts.
- His work provided the foundational collection for the Egyptian Museum in Cairo's Tahrir Square.
Did You Know?
He often wore a fez and a military-style uniform of his own design while overseeing excavations.
He designed the opera 'Aida' for the Khedive of Egypt, developing its plot and Egyptian themes, though the music was composed by Verdi.
He was buried in a sarcophagus in the garden of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
His early career included a stint as an English teacher and a designer of theater costumes.
“Every monument in Egypt must be under the direct surveillance of the Antiquities Service.”
