Welcome to Litsy!

History fans, the episode this week is for you. We delve into the first part of Adrienne Mayor's fantastic book, “The Poison King.“ A riveting history of Mithradates, the legendary king who for a time was the biggest threat to the Roman Empire. We discuss fascinating details, stories, and more. Thanks for listening!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2rNtUiUPI5WwyQJLVxR8HO

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ of 5 ⭐️s

I encountered Mithradates' name while reading books on ancient Roman history, but this is the first book I've read that focuses on his side of the story. Very interesting in that Mayor positions him as a kind of freedom fighter against Western imperialist (Roman) forces. Mostly easy to read, but kind of slow and dry in places.

Mithradates‘ preparations for war included very heavy coin minting in 93–89 BC, to pay for large armies and arms.

Mithradates‘ own handsome coins featured his idealized portrait—looking very much like his hero Alexander, with parted lips and luxuriant hair...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.

Gave this to my wife to read & she's loving it. Turns out GRR Martin cherry picked a few items...