Abstract
A year after his arrival in Saïda, French consular agent Alphonse Durighello made a sensational discovery in January 1855: the sarcophagus of Eshmounazor. We don't know when or how he became involved in archaeological research, but he was undoubtedly attracted by the lucrative aspect of the activity. After a difficult start, he proved to be a valuable collaborator for Ernest Renan on his mission to Phoenicia (1860-1861). He had acquired a thorough knowledge of ancient Sidon and its surroundings, and guided all the learned travelers who passed through the city. He passed on his passion for archaeology to two of his sons, Edmond and Joseph-Ange. Edmond, a very odd character, was a man of the field, a "specialist" in clandestine excavations. In 1881, he and his father discovered the famous Mithreum at Sidon. Joseph-Ange is best known as a merchant who did business with the great museums and collectors of Europe and the United States, but from his earliest youth he devoted himself to exploring the archaeological sites of the Saïda region.
