He fled into exile and returned in triumph to become a ruler of superb intelligence and fierce ambition. Claiming Alexander the Great and Darius of Persia as ancestors, Mithradates inherited a wealthy Black Sea kingdom at age fourteen after his mother poisoned his father. The Poison King describes a life brimming with spectacle and excitement. Read more as it has never been told before. In this richly illustrated book-the first biography of Mithradates in fifty years-Adrienne Mayor combines a storyteller's gifts with the most recent archaeological and scientific discoveries to tell the tale of Mithradates. But until now no modern historian has recounted the full story of Mithradates, the ruthless king and visionary rebel who challenged the power of Rome in the first century BC. His life inspired Mozart's first opera, while for centuries poets and playwrights recited bloody, romantic tales of his victories, defeats, intrigues, concubines, and mysterious death. European royalty sought out his secret elixir against poison. Category: (G) General (US: Trade) (U) Tertiary Education (US: College). This title tells the story of Mithradates. Claiming Alexander the Great and Darius of Persia as ancestors, Mithradates, the ruthless king and visionary rebel who challenged the power of Rome in the first century BC, inherited a wealthy Black Sea kingdom at age fourteen after his mother poisoned his father.
Indeed, Mithradates’ portrait coins are considered by numismatic experts to be the most beautiful of all ancient coins.Description for The Poison King Paperback. Knowing that his unsurpassed coins would be admired, collected, and selected for hoards of buried treasure, Mithradates also designed them for posterity. His coinage conveyed the message that Mithradates was the great unifier-and protector-of Greek and Persian civilizations. He employed the best Greek artisans, and he understood the propaganda value of aesthetically pleasing currency. Mithradates made sure his portrait was known to everyone. Other coins displayed Dionysus the Liberator (associating him with opposition to Rome by slaves and rebels in Italy). Imagery evoking Mithradates’ Persian connections appeared on the reverse, such as winged Pegasus and the star and crescent. “Mithradates’ own handsome coins featured his idealized portrait-looking very much like his hero Alexander, with parted lips and luxuriant hair.
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