Marie Weber was born in Potsdam, southwest of Berlin, in 1871 and at the age of 21, she became a governess to Prince George in Athens. The young governess was blonde with blue eyes and soon attracted the attention of Michalis Mimikos, a 22-year-old army doctor at the Military Hospital of Athens (present-day Weiler Building, near the Acropolis Museum). He was very handsome, rather tall, with dark hair and large eyes, as well as a fine moustache. Other than their youth and beauty, the two prospective lovers were joined by their misfortunes; Marie’s brother had killed himself over a failed love affair, while Mimikos’ brother had committed suicide to protest an insult to his honour.