Murena, 198, 208, 228, 230–33, 236, 255, 262
mushrooms, 101, 252, 394n5
music, 251–52
Mylitta, 89
myrrh, 240
myrtle, 118
mythic hero archetype, 39–42
and burial site, 354
examples of, 40, 41
exile from Sinope and, 393n5
and false death, 419n20
life guided by, 41–42
and male-female couples, 304, 364
M and, 371–73
and marriage, 100
Mytilene, Lesbos, 157, 166, 171
Ñaco del Hoyo, Toni, 8
name of Mithradates: meaning and spelling of, 1, 27
nicknames, 36, 45
naphtha, 46, 53, 302–3
Nasrallah, Hassan, 39
natron, 240
natural disasters, death tolls of, 22
navy: and battle for Rhodes, 180–83, 181
building the, 113, 179
control of Aegean by, 199–200
Roman, 157, 220–21
rule of, 187
Near East, 20, 54, 172–73
Nemanes, 152
Nemea, 158
Neoptolemus, 117, 147, 149, 152–53, 192, 197–98, 221, 225, 231, 261, 335
Nero, Emperor, 10, 50, 243, 244, 249
Nicander of Colophon, 240
Nicomedes III, 127–31, 128, 135–36, 139
Nicomedes IV, 139–41, 143–47, 149–51, 153, 155, 160, 161, 165, 166, 168, 222, 225–26, 233, 260, 264, 305
Nicomedia, Bithynia, 224, 274–76
Niconides, 252
Nicopolis, Pontus, 330
night attacks, 320
nightshade. See belladonna
Nike, 194
Nisibis, 309
nomads, 112, 116–17, 298–99, 304, 307, 321, 338. See also Berber nomads; Scythian nomads
Norse saga, 364, 420n26
North Africa, 110–12. See also Jugurtha
Numa, 166
Numidia, 111–12
Nysa, 18, 153, 154, 172
Nyssa (daughter of M), 114, 344, 349, 352
Nyssa (sister of M), 45, 98–100, 253, 277, 284, 314, 358
Obsequens, A. Julius, 185
Odin, 420n26
Oedipus, 40
oil, 46, 53, 63, 235, 302–3
oleander, 70
Olympias, 68
omens: interpretation of, 33–34
for M, 105
Marius’s use of, 132–34
in Mithradatic Wars, 181–83, 185, 189, 194, 202, 267–69, 269, 272, 297, 310, 343. See also dreams; prophecies
Ophiogenes, 241
opium, 230, 240, 418n4
Oppius, Quintus, 142, 155–57, 166, 177, 226
oracles, 33–35
at Delphi, 34
200–201
of Hystaspes, 34. See also omens; prophecies
oral tradition, “Snowball Effect” of, 41
Orchomenus, 211–13, 223
Orosius, 343
orpiment, 70, 240
orris root, 240
Orsabaris (daughter of M), 114, 139–40, 343, 352, 358
Ossetia, 334
ostension, 41
Otryae, 267–69
Oxathres (son of M), 114, 343, 352, 358
Paccius, L. Lutatius, the Elder, 243
Paccius the Younger, 243
Palestine, 341
Pamphylia, 177, 221
Pantikapaion, 53, 117, 326, 331, 339, 339, 343–47, 356–57
papers, M’s private, 240, 246, 289, 305, 319, 330–31
Paphlagonia, 128–29, 135, 152, 161, 162, 222, 223, 226, 260, 263
Papias, plate 1, 101, 107, 240
paradoxes of M, 10, 24, 26, 215–16, 236. See also character of M; psychology of M
paranoia, 68, 104, 187, 216, 220, 231, 244, 340
Parisades, King, 116, 282
parricide, 361
parsley, 240
Parthenon, Athens, 202
Parthia, 115, 136, 138, 298, 303, 305–6, 316
pastimes, 50, 75, 87–89, 125–27, 237–38, 247–52, 294–95. See also chariot races; hunting
Patara, 157, 183, 186, 228
patricians, 108–9
Paul, Saint, 16, 39
Pausanias, 202, 204, 208
Peace of Dardanus, 221–23, 225–27, 229–31, 237, 256
pederin, 102
Pegasus, 29, 29, 32, 44
Pelopidas, 108, 142–46, 157, 159, 183, 186
Penthesilea, 304
Pergamon: Aquillius taken to, 166–68
comets’ meaning in, 32–33
description of, 15–16
massacre of Romans in, 15–16
medical learning in, 58
in M’s empire, 157, 159, 193–94
M’s visit to, 121
road to, 167
slaves in, 20
Telephus and, 63
theater in, 159, 169, 193–94
Perperna, M., 60
Persephone, 272
Persia, 37, 46, 49–50, 66–67, 136, 295, 362
Persian-influenced cultures, 31–32, 34, 42, 46
Persian religion, 27, 34, 36, 46–47. See also Ahuramazda; fire; Light; Magi; Sun; Truth; Zoroastrianism
Pessinus, 132
Petra, 341
petroleum. See oil
Phanagoria, 53, 117, 339, 343–44, 356
pharmaka, 48, 70, 239. See also antidotes; poison
pharnaceon, 47
Pharnaces I (grandfather of M), 47, 58, 82, 85, 114, 161, 358
Pharnaces (son of M), plate 3, 114, 316, 339, 341–43, 345–47, 351, 357, 361–64, 366, 369
Pharnacia, 277, 282–87
Phazemon, 79
pheasants, 326
Philip of Macedon, 68, 136, 148, 162
Philopoemen, 165, 218
Phoenicia, 138, 221, 330, 331
Phoenix (son of M), 114, 278, 280–81
Phrygia, 82, 110, 121, 142, 144, 155, 157, 161, 162, 225–26, 228
pig bladders, masks from, 240
Piraeus, 196–99, 204–5
pirates and piracy: Aegean raids of, 228
extent of, 116
M’s relations with, 52–53, 113, 116, 258
Pontus and, 52
present-day, 9
Rome and, 258, 314
scimitar associated with, 104
and slave trade, 20, 52, 116
in Third Mithradatic War, 276–78
Pitane, 224
Pizan, Christine de. See Christine de Pizan
plebs, 108–9
Pliny the Elder: on Krateuas’s treatises, 101
on M, 359
and M’s library and papers, 331
on M’s linguistic abilities, 254
on naphtha, 302
Natural History, 4
on plants, 118
on poisons, 240–42, 244–45
on Sulla’s Triumph, 229
plots. See assassination plots
plunder. See looting
Plutarch: on Athens’ destruction, 202–3
on Attalus, 58
on Cleopatra’s linguistic abilities, 254
on Delphic treasure, 201
on flatterers, 126
on Marius and Sulla, 112
and Mithradatic Wars, 4–5, 197–98, 207–10, 212, 224, 236, 265, 267–68, 272, 274, 276, 280, 282, 284, 286–87, 292, 293, 296–98, 301, 303, 307, 309, 311, 318, 323, 327, 328, 330, 331, 334
on M’s death, 353, 354, 359
and M’s library and papers, 331
on M’s marriage to Monime, 163, 165, 218
on M’s mercy, 215
on Peace of Dardanus, 225
on Pompey, 352–54
on Sertorius, 259–60
on Spartacus, 272
on Sulla, 196, 201, 202, 229
Pluto, 154
poetry, 218, 238–39, 250–51, 364
poison: Alexander’s death from, 69
Aquillius the
Elder’s use of, on cities, 61, 167
in Armenia, 295–96
arrows tipped with, 86, 116, 303
Attalus III and, 57–58
in Black Sea region, 70
dual nature of, 48
effects of, 99, 418n4
father’s death from, 68, 69, 71
Galatians’ death from, 215
Grypos and, 107
Hannibal’s death by, 56, 57
kings’ collections of, 102
Laodice’s death from, 99
Laodice the Younger’s death from, 124–25, 125
Medea and, 63
metals/crystals for detecting/neutralizing, 246–47
from minerals, 70–71, 78
Mithradates the Younger’s death from, 230
M’s attempted suicide using, 349–51
M’s investigations of, plate 1, 1–2, 48, 58, 69–72, 88–89, 101–3, 201, 220, 237–47, 295–96
M’s invincibility regarding, 237–39, 349
personality traits associated with use of, 373–74
as political weapon, 1–2, 45, 50
prisoners as test subjects for, 220, 237–38
Psylli and, 111
Roman soldiers killed by, 315
Roman use of, 239, 242
royal succession by, 45
safeguards against, 246–47
as siege tactic, 61
Socrates the Good’s death from, 140
suicide by, 57, 247, 275, 287, 325, 349, 418n4. See also antidotes; specific sources of poison
poison cups, 246
polemonia, 101
Polybius, 34
Pompey the Great, 290, 317
Amasia incapacitated by, 80
Armenian campaign of, 329–30
birth of, 112
command of war assumed by, 312, 312–14, 316
criticisms of, 341
gems dedicated by, 249
Lucullus’s rivalry with, 265, 278, 312–14
and Mithradatic War, 312–45
and Moonlight Battle, plate 6, 319–20
movements of, 327–31, 340–41
and M’s death, plate 9, 352–54
and M’s library and papers, 240, 246
as M’s rival, 4, 24, 63
nickname of, 112
peace negotiations of, 340–41
pirate campaign of, 314–16
rise to power of, 278
and slave uprising, 278
Spanish rebellion put down by, 270
and Sulla’s body, 256
Triumphs of, 312, 328, 351, 357–59
victory proclaimed by, 330, 358
Pontic ducks. See ducks, poisonous
Pontus, 1, 162
appearance of, 79
culture of, 250
foreign policy of, 50–52
influences on, 46
invasion of, 279–80
map of, 78
minerals in, 70
M’s father and, 44–45
M’s recovery of, 309–10, 316, 341–42
pirates and, 52
poisons in, 70
as Roman ally, 51–52
as Roman province, 292
symbol of, 32
wealth of, 52–53, 115, 279
Popov, Serguei, 246
Populars, 132, 188, 222, 227, 236, 259, 270, 294, 312
Poredorix, 214–15
portraits of M. See artistic portrayals of M
Poseidon, 262
Presley, Elvis, 39
Priam, 93–94
Priene, 121
prisoners: Bruttius’s treatment of, 192
general as, 156, 157
M’s cynical use of, 271
M’s freeing of, 151–53
poisons tested on, 220, 237–38
probability, 41
prodigies, 33. See also omens
Prometheus, 62–64, 327, 338
prophecies: and M, 27–36, 74, 95, 96–97, 136
Martha’s, 134
of Rome’s destruction, 33–36
Sertorius’s white doe and, 259
about Sulla, 196. See also dreams; omens; oracles
prostitutes, sacred, 89–91, 295
Prusias, 57
psychology of M, 101, 173–74, 282, 301, 373–76. See also character of M
Psylli, 111
Ptolemaeus, 282, 288
Ptolemy VIII, 38, 163
Ptolemy (general), 38, 361
Ptolemy of Egypt, 220
Publius (general), 35
Punic Wars, 109. See also Second Punic War; Third Punic War
Purple Snake venom, 102
Pylaemenes, 129
Pyrrhus, 160
Pythion, 154
Pythodorus, 154
Racine, Jean, 2
Mithridate, 164, 219, 286, 361, 368, 370
racism, 7, 300
Raglan, Fitzroy, 40, 371
Ramsey, John T., 28–30
Rank, Otto, 39, 371
realgar, 70, 240
reconnaissance expedition, 120–22
red coral, 246
reign, M’s. See rule, M’s
Reinach, Théodore, 28, 120, 221, 243, 249, 261, 268, 321, 331, 333–34, 351–52, 354, 356
Mithridate Eupator, roi du Pont, 6–7
religion: influences on M, 46
Marius’s political use of, 132–34
Persian, 46–47. See also Zoroastrianism
Remus, 33, 33, 52, 108, 161
reptiles, 91, 238–43, 325. See also salamanders; venom
reputation of M, 2–4, 24, 26, 104, 107, 338, 359
Rhodes, 18, 121–22, 153, 157, 163, 166, 171, 179–83, 181, 200, 221, 228, 262
rhododendron, 70, 88
rhubarb, 240
riding, 43, 43–44, 50, 120, 126
Rigsby, Kent, 58
rings, finger, 190, 247–49
robes. See cloaks
Robin Hood, 40
rock-cut tombs, 82, 83, 354
Roki Pass, 332, 336
Roman Republic: Anatolian uprising against, 59–61
Asia as province of, 58–59, 139–42, 155, 158, 165, 228
attitudes toward, 19–20, 47, 52, 107–9, 146, 155, 160, 167, 172, 344
blood-thirstiness of, 34, 109–10, 202–3, 228–29, 275, 283
civil wars in, 110–11, 132, 141, 165, 188, 210, 221, 223, 236
comets’ meaning in, 29–32, 188, 268
defeats in First Mithradatic War, 152–57
economic collapse in, 9, 166, 173–74
extent of, 25
foreign policy and diplomacy of, 105, 109, 131, 146
Greece and, 36, 109, 110, 175–79, 189–213, 222
human sacrifice in, 186
Italian rebellion in, 139, 157–58, 160, 165, 174, 188, 344
and kings, 161
looting by army of, 110, 112, 200–201, 224, 275, 279, 283, 288–92, 302, 314
and massacre of 88 BC, 13–26
military of, 113
M’s knowledge of, 107–11
M’s plans to invade, 327, 342–45
M’s relations with, 1–3, 8–9, 11, 52, 105, 107, 131, 135–36, 142–46, 305–6
navy of, 157
origin of, 108
and Phrygia, 82
and piracy, 258, 314–16
poison as weapon in, 239, 242
Pontus as ally of, 51–52
prophecies of destruction of, 33–36
rebels within, 108
republican rule in, 108–9
rich vs. poor in, 108–11
Senate in, 109, 165, 186, 224, 227, 229, 256, 294, 342, 352
slave rebellions in, 110–11, 272, 278
Spain and, 109, 110, 186, 236, 258–60, 265, 270
symbol of, 33, 33, 35, 35, 52, 108
values of, 109
war declarations in, 145–46, 165, 193. See also Mithradatic Wars
Romulus, 33, 33, 52, 108, 161, 166
Rostovtzeff, Mikhail, 3, 46
Roxana (sister
of M), 45, 98–100, 253, 277, 286, 287
Roxolani, 118, 327
rue, 240, 245, 340
rule: of Cyrus the Great, 49
Persian, 49. See also rule, M’s
rule, M’s: administration in, 153–54
assumption of, 96–99
characteristics of, 119, 296
crowning, 29, 69, 392n39
establishment of, 79
priorities in, 105–7
reforms in, 158
Rumsfeld, Donald, 405n1
Rutilius Rufus, P., 5, 14, 142, 171, 259
sacrifice, 185–86, 262
Saddam Hussein, 8
saffron, 240
Sahin, Sencer, 4
Saint-John’s-wort, 240, 242, 340
salamanders, 91–92, 242
Sallust, 4, 60, 258, 305, 400n24
sambuca, 180, 182–83, 271
Samnites, 160
Samos, 157, 221
Samosata, Commagene, 302–3
Samothrace, 276
sandyx, 296
Sardis, 220
Sarmatia and the Sarmatians, 94, 117, 152, 261, 326, 364
satraps/satrapies, 37, 154
Saturnalia, 328
savior-king: M as, 2, 26, 36, 40, 52, 64, 69, 97, 136–37, 162, 387n15
prophecy of, 27, 34, 36, 57
Scarlatti, Domenico, Mitridate, 364
scars. See lightning; wounds
scenario building, 6, 360
science: achievements in, 2, 252–53, 290–92, 310
Attalus III and, 57–58
M’s studies in, 47–48
poison research, plate 1, 1–2, 48, 58, 69–72, 88–89, 101–3, 201, 220, 237–47, 295–96
scimitars, 32, 104
Scipio Africanus, 109
Scordisci horsemen, 308
scythed chariots. See war chariots
Scythia, 70, 162, 261, 278, 295, 326, 333, 344, 364
Scythian Keyhole (Gates), 333–35, 338–39, 342
Scythian nomads, 50–51, 84, 87, 106, 115, 117, 280–81, 308
Second Punic War, 34
secret communication methods, 206. See also intelligence activities
Selene, 84, 328
Seleucus II, 161
Seleucus Nicator, 37, 162
Seleucus of Cilicia (pirate), 121, 276–77, 290, 325
Senate, Roman, 109, 165, 186, 224, 227, 229, 256, 294, 342, 352
Serapis, 122
Sertorius, Quintus, 111, 236, 246, 258–61, 264, 265, 270
sex and sexuality, 89–91, 114, 295
Shahansha. See King of Kings
shamans, 101. See also Agari healers/shamans; Magi; Psylli
Sheldon, Rose Mary, 174, 175
siblings, 45, 100–101
Sibylline Books, 35, 186, 268
Sicily, 111
siege engines, 2, 179–80, 182, 197–99, 201, 271, 274, 290
sieges: of Amisus, 290
of Athens, 201–5, 203, 204
of Cyzicus, 270–74
of Piraeus, 197–99
poison as tactic in, 61
protective strategies for, 92
of Rhodes, 179–83
of Themiscrya, 279
of Tigranocerta, 297–98
Silk Route, 115, 137, 249, 335
The Poison King Page 56
