Mithridates or Mithradates (

Old Persian Old Persian is one of two directly attested Old Iranian languages (the other being Avestan) and is the ancestor of Middle Persian (the language of the Sasanian Empire). Like other Old Iranian languages, it was known to its native speakers as (I ...

𐎷𐎡𐎰𐎼𐎭𐎠𐎫 ''Miθradāta'') is the

Hellenistic In classical antiquity, the Hellenistic period covers the time in Greek history after Classical Greece, between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and the death of Cleopatra VII in 30 BC, which was followed by the ascendancy of the R ...

form of an

Iranian Iranian () may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Iran ** Iranian diaspora, Iranians living outside Iran ** Iranian architecture, architecture of Iran and parts of the rest of West Asia ** Iranian cuisine, cooking traditions and practic ...

theophoric name A theophoric name (from Greek: , ''theophoros'', literally "bearing or carrying a god") embeds the word equivalent of 'god' or a god's name in a person's name, reflecting something about the character of the person so named in relation to that d ...

, meaning "given by

Mithra Mithra ( ; ) is an ancient Iranian deity ('' yazata'') of covenants, light, oaths, justice, the Sun, contracts, and friendship. In addition to being the divinity of contracts, Mithra is also a judicial figure, an all-seeing protector of Truth ( ...

". Its Modern Persian form is

Mehrdad Mehrdad () is a common Persian male given name in Iran and other Persian speaking countries. Mehrdad is a Persian name for boys that means "given by sun" or "given by love". ''Mehr'' means "sun" or "love," and ''Dad'' means "given." It comes fr ...

. It may refer to:

Rulers

*Of

Cius Cius (; ''Kios''), later renamed Prusias on the Sea (; ) after king Prusias I of Bithynia, was an ancient Greek city bordering the Propontis (now known as the Sea of Marmara), in Bithynia and in Mysia (in modern northwestern Turkey), and had a ...

(also known as Kios) **

Mithridates of Cius Mithridates (in Greek Mιθριδάτης; lived 4th century BCE), son of Ariobarzanes prince of Cius, is mentioned by Xenophon as having betrayed his father, and the same circumstance is alluded to by Aristotle. He may or may not be the same Mit ...

(d. 363 BC) ** Mithridates II of Cius (''r.'' 337–302 BC) **Mithridates III of Cius (''r.'' c. 301 BC) (became Mithridates I of Pontus, for whom see below) *Of

Pontus Pontus or Pontos may refer to: * Short Latin name for the Pontus Euxinus, the Greek name for the Black Sea (aka the Euxine sea) * Pontus (mythology), a sea god in Greek mythology * Pontus (region), on the southern coast of the Black Sea, in modern ...

Mithridates I of Pontus Mithridates I Ctistes (; reigned 281–266 BC), also known as Mithridates III of Cius, was a Persian nobleman and the founder (this is the meaning of the word ''Ctistes'', literally ''Builder'') of the Kingdom of Pontus in Anatolia. Mithridates ...

(''r.'' c. 281–266 BC), originally Mithridates III of Cius and also called Mithridates I Ctistes, founder of the Kingdom of Pontus **

Mithridates II of Pontus Mithridates II (Greek: Mιθριδάτης; lived 3rd century BC), third king of Pontus and son of Ariobarzanes, whom he succeeded on the throne. Early life He was a minor when his father died, but the date of his accession cannot be determi ...

(''r.'' c. 250–220 BC) **

Mithridates III of Pontus Mithridates III () was the fourth king of Pontus, son of Mithridates II of Pontus and Laodice. Mithridates had two sisters: Laodice III, the first wife of the Seleucid King Antiochus III the Great, and Laodice of Pontus. He may have ruled i ...

(''r.'' c. 220–185 BC) **

Mithridates IV of Pontus Mithridates IV of Pontus, sometimes known by his full name Mithridates Philopator Philadelphus, (, "Mithridates the father-loving, brother-loving"; died ) was a prince and sixth ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus. Biography Mithridates IV was of P ...

(''r.'' c. 170–150 BC), full name Mithridates Philopator Philadelphus **

Mithridates V Euergetes Mithridates or Mithradates V Euergetes (, which means "Mithridates the Benefactor"; died 120 BC) was a prince and the seventh king of the Kingdom of Pontus. Life Mithridates V was of Greek Macedonian and Persian ancestry. He was the son of th ...

(''r.'' c. 150–120 BC) **

Mithridates VI Eupator Mithridates or Mithradates VI Eupator (; 135–63 BC) was the ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus in northern Anatolia from 120 to 63 BC, and one of the Roman Republic's most formidable and determined opponents. He was an effective, ambitious, and ...

(''r.'' c. 120–63 BC), also known as Mithridates the Great, after whom the

Mithridatic Wars The Mithridatic Wars were three conflicts fought by the Roman Republic against the Kingdom of Pontus and its allies between 88 and 63 BC. They are named after Mithridates VI, the King of Pontus during the course of the wars, who initiated the ho ...

, ''

Mithridate (Racine) ''Mithridate'' is a tragedy in five acts (with respectively 5, 6, 6, 7, and 5 scenes) in alexandrine verse by Jean Racine. Background and history First performed on January 13, 1673 at the Hotel de Bourgogne, Mithridates follows '' Bajazet'' and ...

'', and several stage works are named *Of

Parthia Parthia ( ''Parθava''; ''Parθaw''; ''Pahlaw'') is a historical region located in northeastern Greater Iran. It was conquered and subjugated by the empire of the Medes during the 7th century BC, was incorporated into the subsequent Achaemeni ...

Mithridates I of Parthia Mithridates I (also spelled Mithradates I or Mihrdad I; ''Mihrdāt''), also known as Mithridates I the Great, was king of the Parthian Empire from 165 BC to 132 BC. During his reign, Parthia was transformed from a small kingdom into a major poli ...

(''r.'' 171–132 BC) also known as Mithridates I the Great **

Mithridates II of Parthia Mithridates II (also spelled Mithradates II or Mihrdad II; ''Mihrdāt'') was king of the Parthian Empire from 124 to 91 BC. Considered one of the greatest of his dynasty to ever rule, he was known as Mithridates the Great in antiquity. Mithridate ...

(''r.'' 124–88 BC) also known as Mithridates the Great **

Mithridates III of Parthia Mithridates III ( ''Mihrdāt'') was king of the Parthian Empire from 87 to 80 BC. His existence is disputed in scholarship. Biography Mithridates' year of birth is not specified by ancient historians, but his coin mints illustrate him as a middl ...

(''r.'' 87–80 BC) **

Mithridates IV of Parthia Mithridates IV (also spelled Mithradates IV; ''Mihrdāt'') was a Parthian king from to 57 to 54 BC. He was the son and successor of Phraates III (). Mithridates IV's reign was marked by a dynastic struggle with his younger brother, Orodes II, wh ...

(''r.'' 57–54 BC) **

Mithridates V of Parthia Mithridates V ( ''Mihrdāt'') was a Parthian contender from 129 to 140. Sources claim he was either a son of Pacorus II or a brother of Osroes I. His son, Vologases IV of Parthia (147–191), took the throne after the death of Vologases III ...

(''r.'' 129–140 AD) **

Meherdates Meherdates ( ''Mihrdāt'') was a Parthian prince who competed against Gotarzes II () for the Parthian crown from 49 to 51 AD. A son of Vonones I (), he was ultimately defeated and captured by Gotarzes II, who spared him, but had his ears mutila ...

of Parthia (''r.'' 49-51 AD) successor of

Vonones I Vonones I ( ''Onōnēs'' on his coins) was an Arsacid prince, who ruled as King of Kings of Parthian Empire from 8 to 12, and subsequently as king of Armenia from 12 to 18. He was the eldest son of Phraates IV () and was sent to Rome as a hostage ...

*Of

Commagene Commagene () was an ancient Greco-Iranian kingdom ruled by a Hellenized branch of the Orontid dynasty, Orontids, a dynasty of Iranian peoples, Iranian origin, that had ruled over the Satrapy of Armenia. The kingdom was located in and around the ...

Mithridates I Callinicus Mithridates I Callinicus () was a king of Orontid Iranian; ; ; ; descent who lived during the late 2nd century BC and early 1st century BC. Mithridates was a prince, the son, and successor of King of Commagene, Sames II Theosebes Dikaios. Befor ...

(''r.'' 109–70 BC) **

Mithridates II of Commagene Mithridates II Antiochus Epiphanes Philorhomaeus Philhellen Monocrites (, died 20 BC), also known as Mithridates II of Commagene, was a king of Commagene in the 1st century BC. Of Iranian; ; ; ; ; ; and Greek descent, he was one of the sons of ...

(''r.'' 38–20 BC), full name Mithridates II Antiochus Epiphanes Philorhomaeus Philhellen Monocrites **

Mithridates III of Commagene Mithridates III Antiochus Epiphanes (, flourished 1st century BC) was a prince who served as a King of Commagene. Biography Mithridates III was the son and successor of King Mithridates II of Commagene. He was of Iranian; ; ; ; and Greek desc ...

(''r.'' 20–12 BC), full name Mithridates III Antiochus Epiphanes *Of

Media Atropatene Atropatene (; ; ), also known as Media Atropatene, was an ancient Iranian kingdom established in by the Persian satrap Atropates (). The kingdom, centered in present-day Azerbaijan region in northwestern Iran, was ruled by Atropates' descenda ...

Mithridates I of Media Atropatene Mithridates I of Media Atropatene, sometimes known as Mithridates I and Mithridates of Media (100 BC – 66 BC) was a king of Media Atropatene. Although Mithridates I was a Median prince, little is known on his lineage and his life. In or before 6 ...

(''r.'' 67–66 BC) *Of the

Bosporus The Bosporus or Bosphorus Strait ( ; , colloquially ) is a natural strait and an internationally significant waterway located in Istanbul, Turkey. The Bosporus connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and forms one of the continental bo ...

Mithridates II of the Bosporus Mithridates II of the Bosporus, also known as Mithridates of Pergamon (), was a nobleman from Anatolia. Mithridates was one of the sons born to King Mithridates VI from his mistress, the Galatian Princess Adobogiona the Elder. He also had a full ...

(''r.'' 47-46 BC), also known as Mithridates of Pergamon **

Tiberius Julius Mithridates Tiberius Julius Mithridates Philogermanicus Philopatris, also known as Mithridates III of the Bosporus (fl. 41 AD, died 68 AD), was a Roman client king of the Bosporus. Ancestry Mithridates was the first son of the Roman client king Aspurgu ...

, (''r.'' 39–44/45 AD, d. 68 AD), also known as Mithridates III of the Bosporus, 1st-century Roman client king *Of

Armenia Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia (country), Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to ...

Mithridates of Armenia Mithridates of Armenia () was a Pharnavazid prince of the Kingdom of Iberia who served as a King of Armenia under the protection of the Roman Empire. Mithridates was installed by Roman emperor Tiberius, who invaded Armenia in AD 35. When the ...

(''r.'' 35–51 AD) *Of

Iberia The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, compri ...

Mihrdat I of Iberia Mithridates I (Mihrdat I) ( ka, მითრიდატე I) was the 1st-century king (''mepe'') of Iberia (Kartli, Georgia) whose reign is evidenced by epigraphic material. Cyril Toumanoff suggests 58–106 as the years of his reign. Armazi i ...

(''r.'' 58–106 AD) **

Mihrdat II of Iberia Mihrdat II ( ka, მირდატ II, Latinized as ''Mithridates''), of the Arsacid dynasty, was a king ('' mepe'') of Iberia (natively known as Kartli; ancient Georgia) from 249 to 265 AD. He is known exclusively from the medieval Georgian ...

(''r.'' 249–265 AD) **

Mihrdat III of Iberia Mihrdat III ( ka, მირდატ III, Latinized as ''Mithridates''), of the Chosroid dynasty, was the king (''mepe'') of Iberia (Kartli, eastern Georgia) from c. 365 to 380 ( diarch 370–378). Mihrdat succeeded his father, Varaz-Bakur kno ...

(''r.'' c. 365–380 AD) **

Mihrdat IV of Iberia Mihrdat IV ( ka, მირდატ IV, Latinized as ''Mithridates''), of the Chosroid Dynasty, was the king (''mepe'') of Iberia (Kartli, eastern Georgia) from c. 409 to 411. He was the son of Aspacures III and the grandson (on his mother’s ...

(''r.'' c. 409–411 AD) ** Mihrdat V of Iberia (''r.'' c. 435–447 AD) *Of

Colchis In classical antiquity and Greco-Roman geography, Colchis (; ) was an exonym for the Georgian polity of Egrisi ( ka, ეგრისი) located on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, centered in present-day western Georgia. Its population, the ...

Mithridates of Colchis Mithridates () was a son of King Mithridates VI of Pontus and his sister-wife Laodice. He was made by his father ruler of Colchis on the Black Sea, but then removed and put to death on suspicion of disloyalty. First Mithridatic War Mithridates ...

()

Other people

Mithridates (Persian general) Mithridates or Mithradates () was a Persian noble. His wife was the daughter of Darius III with the sister of Pharnaces, which made him the son-in-law of Darius. Arrian, 1.15.7, 16.3 Diodorus, 17.20.2, 21.3 (wrongly naming him Spithrodates) He ...

(d. 334 BC), son-in-law of Darius III *Mitradates, according to Herodotus a Median herdsman, who was ordered to murder the future

Cyrus the Great Cyrus II of Persia ( ; 530 BC), commonly known as Cyrus the Great, was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire. Achaemenid dynasty (i. The clan and dynasty) Hailing from Persis, he brought the Achaemenid dynasty to power by defeating the Media ...

by his grandfather

Astyages Astyages was the last king of the Median kingdom, reigning from 585 to 550 BCE. The son of Cyaxares, he was dethroned by the Persian king Cyrus the Great. Reign Astyages succeeded his father in 585 BCE, following the Battle of Halys, wh ...

, but who secretly raised him with his wife Cyno until the age of ten, having passed off their own stillborn child as the murdered Cyrus. *

Mithridates Chrestus Mithridates Chrestus (; ''the Good'', flourished 2nd century BC, died 115 BC-113 BC) was a Prince and co-ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus. Chrestus was of Greek and Persian ancestry. He was the second son and among the children born to the Pontian ...

, prince from the Kingdom of Pontus, brother of Mithridates VI of Pontus *

Flavius Mithridates Flavius Mithridates was an Italian Jewish humanist scholar, who flourished at Rome in the second half of the 15th century. He is said to be from Sicily, and was a Christian convert, known for preaching impressively if tendentiously. He also had a kn ...

, 15th-century Italian Jewish translator * Mithredath, or Mithridates, two minor Hebrew Bible figures

Other uses

Mithridate Mithridate, also known as mithridatium, mithridatum, or mithridaticum, is a semi-mythical remedy with as many as 65 ingredients, used as an antidote for poisoning, and said to have been created by Mithridates VI Eupator of Pontus in the 1st cen ...

, semi-mythical antidote named for Mithridates VI of Pontus *

Mithridatism Mithridatism is the practice of protecting oneself against a poison by gradually self-administering non-lethal amounts. The word is derived from Mithridates VI, the king of Pontus, who so feared being poisoned that he regularly ingested small dos ...

, the practice of taking repeated low doses of a poison with the intent of building immunity to it, attributed to Mithridates VI of Pontus * ''

Epistula Mithridatis The ''Epistula Mithridatis'' (), also known as the Letter of Mithridates to King Arsaces, is a letter allegedly written by Mithridates VI of Pontus to the Parthian king Phraates III (70–57 BC). The letter was discovered "among a collection of S ...

'', a letter allegedly written by Mithridates VI of Pontus (assigned to Sallust) * ''Mithridate'' (Racine), 1673 play by Jean Racine based on Mithridates VI of Pontus ** '' Mitridate Eupatore'', 1707 opera by Alessandro Scarlatti, based on Mithridates VI of Pontus ** '' Mitridate (Porpora)'', 1730 opera by Porpora ** ''

Mitridate, re di Ponto ''Mitridate, re di Ponto'' (''Mithridates, King of Pontus''), K. 87 (74a), is an opera seria in three acts by the young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The libretto is by , after Giuseppe Parini's Italian translation of Jean Racine's play '' Mithridate ...

'', 1770 opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, based on Racine's play * ''Mithridates, de differentiis linguarum ..', a book with 22 translations of the Lord's Prayer collected by

Conrad Gessner Conrad Gessner (; ; 26 March 1516 – 13 December 1565) was a Swiss physician, naturalist, bibliographer, and philologist. Born into a poor family in Zürich, Switzerland, his father and teachers quickly realised his talents and supported him t ...

Rulers

Other people

Other uses

See also