Stratonice of Pontus
Encyclopedia
Stratonice of Pontus was a Greek woman
from the Kingdom of Pontus
who one of the mistresses and the fourth wife of King Mithridates VI of Pontus
.
Stratonice was a citizen of the Pontian city of Kabeira
. She was originally a woman of mean birth and was the daughter of a Harp
ist.
Stratonice was a harpist in the court of Mithridates VI. She became one of the mistresses to the King and eventually Mithridates VI married her as one of his wives after 86 BC. Stratonice bore Mithridates, a son called Xiphares
.
Stratonice became one of the favorite wives of the King and had obtained much influence over him. When Mithridates VI was compelled to undertake his perilous retreat to the Black Sea
, Mithridates VI left Stratonice in charge of a strong fortress, at Coenum in which he had deposited a large amount of treasure.
Stratonice was induced to betray both the fortress and the fortress’ treasures into the hands of the Roman General Pompey
, on the condition that Pompey should spare the life of her son. However Mithridates VI, in order to punish her for her treason against him, had put their son to death before her eyes. She had died in 63 BC, when the Kingdom of Pontus
was annexed by the Roman General Pompey
.
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
from the Kingdom of Pontus
Kingdom of Pontus
The Kingdom of Pontus or Pontic Empire was a state of Persian origin on the southern coast of the Black Sea. It was founded by Mithridates I in 291 BC and lasted until its conquest by the Roman Republic in 63 BC...
who one of the mistresses and the fourth wife of 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...
.
Stratonice was a citizen of the Pontian city of Kabeira
Cabira
Cabira , a place in Pontus, at the base of the range of Paryadres, about 150 stadia south of Eupatoria or Magnopolis, which was at the junction of the Iris and the Lycus. Eupatoria was in the midst of the plain, but Cabira, as Strabo says , was at the base of the Paryadres...
. She was originally a woman of mean birth and was the daughter of a Harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
ist.
Stratonice was a harpist in the court of Mithridates VI. She became one of the mistresses to the King and eventually Mithridates VI married her as one of his wives after 86 BC. Stratonice bore Mithridates, a son called Xiphares
Xiphares
Xiphares was a Pontian Greek prince, who was the son King Mithridates VI of Pontus from his concubine and later wife, Stratonice of Pontus. His mother turned over the stronghold of Mithridates at Coenum that had been entrusted to her protection to the Roman forces under Pompey. In revenge,...
.
Stratonice became one of the favorite wives of the King and had obtained much influence over him. When Mithridates VI was compelled to undertake his perilous retreat to the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
, Mithridates VI left Stratonice in charge of a strong fortress, at Coenum in which he had deposited a large amount of treasure.
Stratonice was induced to betray both the fortress and the fortress’ treasures into the hands of the Roman General Pompey
Pompey
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, also known as Pompey or Pompey the Great , was a military and political leader of the late Roman Republic...
, on the condition that Pompey should spare the life of her son. However Mithridates VI, in order to punish her for her treason against him, had put their son to death before her eyes. She had died in 63 BC, when the Kingdom of Pontus
Kingdom of Pontus
The Kingdom of Pontus or Pontic Empire was a state of Persian origin on the southern coast of the Black Sea. It was founded by Mithridates I in 291 BC and lasted until its conquest by the Roman Republic in 63 BC...
was annexed by the Roman General Pompey
Pompey
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, also known as Pompey or Pompey the Great , was a military and political leader of the late Roman Republic...
.
Sources
- http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/3259.html
- Mayor, A. The Poison King: the life and legend of Mithradates, Rome’s deadliest enemy, Princeton University Press, 2009