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A brief review on the life of Mithridates VI of Pontus (132-63 B.C)
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Mithridates Etymology: Μιθριδάτης, more correctly Mithradates, literally (in Persian): “given by Mithra”. Mehrdaad in modern Persian Where: Pontus, in the southern shore of the “Black Sea” (Pontine sea)
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Mithridates IV Eupator Etymology: Μιθριδάτης, more correctly Mithradates, literally (in Persian): “given by Mithra”. Mehrdaad in modern Persian Where: Pontus, in the southern shore of the “Black Sea” (Pontine sea) When: 132-63 B.C Who: Kings of Pontus, descendants of Persian satraps of Pontus. Mithridates (VI) the great, Eupator Dionysius, descendant of Darius and Alexander (as he claimed).
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Early reign His father (Mithridates V) was poisoned by the queen in 120 B.C. Mithridates escaped and lived with nomadic tribes for few years. He returned in 115 B.C and took the throne back Conquer of Colchis, Crimea, Tauric Chersonesus and the Bosporan Kingdom. Turning attention to Anatolia
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Legends Lover of Greek literature and theater Father of Toxicology! (he made his body immune to a large number of poisons)
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Propaganda Philhellenism: Liberator of Greece from Rome Perseus was favored as an intermediary between both worlds, East and West
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Mithridatic wars First: 88-84 BC (Sulla finally pushed Mithridates out of Greece proper) Second: 83-82 BC (Lucullus defeated Mithridates at first but he pushed Romans back again) Third: 75---65 BC (Pompeius Magnus defeated Mithridates Mithridates fled to Crimea)
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Death of the king (63 B.C) Appian's Roman History (XVI, §111): Mithridates then took out some poison that he always carried next to his sword, and mixed it. There two of his daughters,...asked him to let them have some of the poison first, and insisted … and prevented him from drinking it until they had taken some... The drug took effect on them at once; but upon Mithridates, although he walked around rapidly to hasten its action, it had no effect. Seeing… Bituitus there, an officer of the Gauls, he said to him, "I have profited much from your right arm against my enemies. I shall profit from it most of all if you will kill me, and save from the danger of being led in a Roman triumph one who has been an autocrat so many years..." Bituitus, thus...rendered the king the service that he desired
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Memory… Middle ages and Islamic medicine: Antidotum Mithridaticum (Exir e Methroditus) Art: Tragedy play named “Mithridates” written by Jean Racine (1673) More art: Mozart's opera, Mitridate, re di Ponto (1770) Thank you! Enjoy the party!
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