The Nubian heroine of opera is AIDA, a four-letter word. AIDA is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni. It is based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette. The story takes place in ancient Egypt and is centered around the love triangle between AIDA, a Nubian princess, Radames, an Egyptian military commander, and Amneris, the daughter of the Pharaoh. AIDA has become one of the most popular operas of all time.