The poison king the life and legend of Mithridates, Rome's deadliest enemy - Mayor, Adrienne (Princeton University Press, 2009)
Includes bibliographical references and index
Kill them all, and let the gods sort them out -- A savior is born in a castle by the sea -- Education of a young hero -- The lost boys -- Return of the king -- Storm clouds -- Victory -- Terror -- Battle for Greece -- Killers' kiss -- Living like a king -- Falling star -- Renegade kings -- End game -- In the tower
Machiavelli praised his military genius. European royalty sought out his secret elixir against poison. His life inspired Mozart's first opera, while for centuries poets and playwrights recited bloody, romantic tales of his victories, defeats, intrigues, concubines, and mysterious death. But until now no modern historian has recounted the full story of Mithradates, the ruthless king and visionary rebel who challenged the power of Rome in the first century BC. In this richly illustrated book--the first biography of Mithradates in fifty years--Adrienne Mayor combines a storyteller's gifts with th