The Poison King Quotes

“Mithradates’ own handsome coins featured his idealized portrait—looking very much like his hero Alexander, with parted lips and luxuriant hair. Imagery evoking Mithradates’ Persian connections appeared on the reverse, such as winged Pegasus and the star and crescent. Other coins displayed Dionysus the Liberator (associating him with opposition to Rome by slaves and rebels in Italy). Mithradates made sure his portrait was known to everyone. He employed the best Greek artisans, and he understood the propaganda value of aesthetically pleasing currency. His coinage conveyed the message that Mithradates was the great unifier—and protector—of Greek and Persian civilizations. Knowing that his unsurpassed coins would be admired, collected, and selected for hoards of buried treasure, Mithradates also designed them for posterity. Indeed, Mithradates’ portrait coins are considered by numismatic experts to be the most beautiful of all ancient coins.”
― Adrienne Mayor, The Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome's Deadliest Enemy

“Mithradates’ preparations for war included very heavy coin minting in 93–89 BC, to pay for large armies and arms.20”
― Adrienne Mayor, The Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome's Deadliest Enemy

“While war ravaged Rome, Mithradates gloried in the victories of the Greek campaign. Halley’s Comet was taken as a good omen by Mithradates’ Magi and by his allies. In Athens, the philosopher Aristion succeeded Athenion, elected on a pro-Mithradates platform; Aristion’s name appeared with Mithradates’ on Athenian coins of 87–86 BC.”
― Adrienne Mayor, The Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome's Deadliest Enemy

“Archaeologists have discovered special-issue gold and silver coins with images of Dionysus (god of liberation) and Mithradatic devices commemorating the communications between Mithradates and the insurgents in Italy from this time.”
― Adrienne Mayor, The Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome's Deadliest Enemy

“Mithradates began minting beautiful silver tetradrachms with his portrait in Pergamon, and the city of Smyrna also stamped bronze coins with his likeness. Other cities, including Ephesus, Miletus, Tralles, and Erythrae, issued new gold staters to trumpet their independence from Rome.19”
― Adrienne Mayor, The Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome's Deadliest Enemy

“The rebels issued coins showing the Italian Bull goring the Roman Wolf. Archaeologists have also discovered gold Italian coins similar to Mithradates’ Pontic coins, showing Dionysus, an allusion to Mithradates’ nickname and a symbol of rebellion against Rome.17”
― Adrienne Mayor, The Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome's Deadliest Enemy