Monime
Encyclopedia
Monime, sometimes known as Monima was a Greek Macedonian noblewoman
from Anatolia
and one of the wives of King Mithridates VI of Pontus
.
According to the ancient sources she was a citizen of either Miletus
or Stratonicea, Caria. Monime was the daughter of a prominent citizen called Philopoemen. Monime was a beautiful, intelligent woman and was much talked about among the Greeks.
When the King Mithridates VI of Pontus
and his army successfully captured her native city in 89/88 BC, her beauty made a great impression on Mithridates VI. He was strongly drawn to her and Mithridates VI was attracted to powerful personalities whose intelligence complemented his own.
Mithridates VI thought of making Monime the jewel of his harem, he began negotiations with Philopoemen. Mithridates VI offered her father 1500 gold pieces. She rejected the offer and she held out for more. Monime demanded from Mithridates VI a marriage contract and insisted that he give her a royal Diadem
and the title of ‘Queen’. Although he found Monime irresistible, Mithridates VI agreed to what Monime wanted.
The royal scribes prepared the marriage contract. Mithridates VI tied a purple and gold ribbon around the head of Monime, the pair withdrew to the private rooms of the palace at Sinope
to become better acquainted. They had married in 89/88 BC and through her marriage to Mithridates VI; Monime became his second wife and Queen of Pontus. Her father received his gold from Mithridates VI and Mithridates VI appointed Philopoemen as his overseer in Ephesus
. Monime bore Mithridates VI a child, a daughter called Athenais
.
In the beginning of their marriage, she exercised great influence over her husband however this didn’t last long. In the end they had an unhappy marriage and he later became dissatisfied with her. Monime later repented her marriage to Mithridates VI; her elevation and was later effected in leaving her native city.
In 72/71 BC, when her husband was compelled to abandon his own dominions and took refuge in the Kingdom of Armenia, Monime was put to death at Pharnacia
. Her correspondence to Mithridates VI, which was of a licentious character, fell into the hands of Roman general Pompey
at the capture of the fortress at Caenon Phrourion.
Monime is a character in a tragedy of five acts called Mithridate
. The actresses Jean Racine
and Rachel
have played the part of Monime.
Macedonians (Greeks)
Macedonians are a regional population group of ethnic Greeks, inhabiting or originating from the region of Macedonia, in northern Greece. Today, most live in or around the regional capital city of Thessaloniki. Many have spread across the whole of Greece and in the diaspora.-Preface:Greek...
from Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
and one of the wives 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...
.
According to the ancient sources she was a citizen of either Miletus
Miletus
Miletus was an ancient Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia , near the mouth of the Maeander River in ancient Caria...
or Stratonicea, Caria. Monime was the daughter of a prominent citizen called Philopoemen. Monime was a beautiful, intelligent woman and was much talked about among the Greeks.
When the 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...
and his army successfully captured her native city in 89/88 BC, her beauty made a great impression on Mithridates VI. He was strongly drawn to her and Mithridates VI was attracted to powerful personalities whose intelligence complemented his own.
Mithridates VI thought of making Monime the jewel of his harem, he began negotiations with Philopoemen. Mithridates VI offered her father 1500 gold pieces. She rejected the offer and she held out for more. Monime demanded from Mithridates VI a marriage contract and insisted that he give her a royal Diadem
Diadem
Diadem may refer to:*Diadem, a type of crown-Military:*HMS Diadem was a 64-gun third rate ship of the line in the Royal Navy launched in 1782 at Chatham and participated in the Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1787...
and the title of ‘Queen’. Although he found Monime irresistible, Mithridates VI agreed to what Monime wanted.
The royal scribes prepared the marriage contract. Mithridates VI tied a purple and gold ribbon around the head of Monime, the pair withdrew to the private rooms of the palace at Sinope
Sinop, Turkey
Sinop is a city with a population of 36,734 on İnce Burun , by its Cape Sinop which is situated on the most northern edge of the Turkish side of Black Sea coast, in the ancient region of Paphlagonia, in modern-day northern Turkey, historically known as Sinope...
to become better acquainted. They had married in 89/88 BC and through her marriage to Mithridates VI; Monime became his second wife and Queen of Pontus. Her father received his gold from Mithridates VI and Mithridates VI appointed Philopoemen as his overseer in Ephesus
Ephesus
Ephesus was an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman city, on the west coast of Asia Minor, near present-day Selçuk, Izmir Province, Turkey. It was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek era...
. Monime bore Mithridates VI a child, a daughter called Athenais
Athenais Philostorgos II
Athenais Philostorgos II her surname can be spelt as Philostorgus, she is sometimes known as Athenais of Pontus was a Princess from the Kingdom of Pontus and through marriage was a Roman Client Queen of Cappadocia.Athenais was a Princess of Persian and Greek Macedonian...
.
In the beginning of their marriage, she exercised great influence over her husband however this didn’t last long. In the end they had an unhappy marriage and he later became dissatisfied with her. Monime later repented her marriage to Mithridates VI; her elevation and was later effected in leaving her native city.
In 72/71 BC, when her husband was compelled to abandon his own dominions and took refuge in the Kingdom of Armenia, Monime was put to death at Pharnacia
Giresun
Giresun is the provincial capital of Giresun Province in the Black Sea Region of northeastern Turkey, about west of the city of Trabzon.-Etymology:...
. Her correspondence to Mithridates VI, which was of a licentious character, fell into the hands of 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...
at the capture of the fortress at Caenon Phrourion.
Monime is a character in a tragedy of five acts called Mithridate
Mithridate (Racine)
Mithridate is a tragedy in five acts in Alexandrine verse by Jean Racine.-Background and History:...
. The actresses Jean Racine
Jean Racine
Jean Racine , baptismal name Jean-Baptiste Racine , was a French dramatist, one of the "Big Three" of 17th-century France , and one of the most important literary figures in the Western tradition...
and Rachel
Rachel (actress)
Elisabeth "Eliza, or Élisa" Rachel Félix , better known only as Mademoiselle Rachel , was a French actress....
have played the part of Monime.
Sources
- http://ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2220.html
- Mayor, A. The Poison King: the life and legend of Mithradates, Rome’s deadliest enemy, Princeton University Press, 2009