Hypsicratea
Encyclopedia
Hypsicratea or Hipsicratea (flourished 1st century BC), was a Caucasian
woman who became Queen of Pontus. She ruled a confederacy of states with King Mithridates VI of Pontus
.
The concubine; the sixth and the most famous wife of Mithridates VI, she loved her husband so much that she donned a male disguise, learned warrior skills, and followed him into exile. When he was defeated and put to flight, wherever he sought refuge, even in the most remote solitude. She considered that wherever her husband was, there she would find her kingdom, her riches, and her country, which was of the greatest comfort and solace to Mithridates in his many misfortunes. She assisted him in all labours including the hazards of the war. She rode with him in battle, to suppress rebellions and to fight against the Roman Republic
. She is noted to have fought with ax, lance, sword, and bow and arrow.
During Mithridates' defeat by Pompey
, Hypsicratea broke free of Pompey's blockade and while the rest dispersed she was one of only three who remained by the King's side. Plutarch
wrote that she was
"...always manly (androdes) and extremely bold, the king consequently liked to call her Hypsicrates. At that time taking possession of a clock and horse of a Persian
man she neither flagged in body before the distances they ran nor did she weary of tending the body and horse of the king, until they came to a place called Sinor
, which was full of the king's coins and treasures."
Valerius Maximus
observes that she departed with a chief ornament of her beauty.
"The Queen Hypsicratea too loved her husband Mithradates, with all the stops of affection let out, and for his sake she thought it a pleasure to change the outstanding splendor of her beauty for a masculine style. For she cut her hair and habituated herself to horse and arms, so that she might more easily participate in his tools and danger. Indeed when he was defeated by Cn. Pompey, and fleeing through wild peoples, she followed him with body and soul equally indefatigable. Her extraordinary fidelity was for Mithradates his greatest solace and most pleasant comfort in those bitter and difficult conditions, for he considered that he was wandering with house and home because his wife was in exile along with him."
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
woman who became Queen of Pontus. She ruled a confederacy of states with King Mithridates VI of Pontus
Mithridates VI of Pontus
Mithridates VI or Mithradates VI Mithradates , from Old Persian Mithradatha, "gift of Mithra"; 134 BC – 63 BC, also known as Mithradates the Great and Eupator Dionysius, was king of Pontus and Armenia Minor in northern Anatolia from about 120 BC to 63 BC...
.
The concubine; the sixth and the most famous wife of Mithridates VI, she loved her husband so much that she donned a male disguise, learned warrior skills, and followed him into exile. When he was defeated and put to flight, wherever he sought refuge, even in the most remote solitude. She considered that wherever her husband was, there she would find her kingdom, her riches, and her country, which was of the greatest comfort and solace to Mithridates in his many misfortunes. She assisted him in all labours including the hazards of the war. She rode with him in battle, to suppress rebellions and to fight against the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
. She is noted to have fought with ax, lance, sword, and bow and arrow.
During Mithridates' defeat by Pompey
Pompey
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, also known as Pompey or Pompey the Great , was a military and political leader of the late Roman Republic...
, Hypsicratea broke free of Pompey's blockade and while the rest dispersed she was one of only three who remained by the King's side. Plutarch
Plutarch
Plutarch then named, on his becoming a Roman citizen, Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus , c. 46 – 120 AD, was a Greek historian, biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonist known primarily for his Parallel Lives and Moralia...
wrote that she was
"...always manly (androdes) and extremely bold, the king consequently liked to call her Hypsicrates. At that time taking possession of a clock and horse of a Persian
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
man she neither flagged in body before the distances they ran nor did she weary of tending the body and horse of the king, until they came to a place called Sinor
Sinor
Sinor or Shinor is a small town in Vadodara District, Gujarat, India. Situated on the bank of river Narmada, it is known as the birthplace of one of the most prolific Gujarati writers Ramanlal Vasantlal Desai. Natives speak Gujarati as their first language here.People living here are mostly from...
, which was full of the king's coins and treasures."
Valerius Maximus
Valerius Maximus
Valerius Maximus was a Latin writer and author of a collection of historical anecdotes. He worked during the reign of Tiberius .-Biography:...
observes that she departed with a chief ornament of her beauty.
"The Queen Hypsicratea too loved her husband Mithradates, with all the stops of affection let out, and for his sake she thought it a pleasure to change the outstanding splendor of her beauty for a masculine style. For she cut her hair and habituated herself to horse and arms, so that she might more easily participate in his tools and danger. Indeed when he was defeated by Cn. Pompey, and fleeing through wild peoples, she followed him with body and soul equally indefatigable. Her extraordinary fidelity was for Mithradates his greatest solace and most pleasant comfort in those bitter and difficult conditions, for he considered that he was wandering with house and home because his wife was in exile along with him."
Primary sources
- Orosius, Historiae adversus paganos vi.5.3-5
- Valerius Maximus, Factorum et dictorum memorabilium libri vi.6
Secondary sources
- Salmonson, Jessica Amanda.(1991) The Encyclopedia of Amazons. Paragon House. Page 122. ISBN 1-55778-420-5