In the ancient world, when one thinks of poisons, only one man can truly come to mind, Mithridates VI of Pontus. His name has become synonymous with toxicology and even today is know as the ‘father of experimental toxicology’. Hailing from the kingdom of Pontus (modern day Northern Turkey), Mithridates developed an obsession and fascination with poison. Pontus was well known throughout the ancient world for its abundances of poisonous materials, and this suited Mithridates aims perfectly.
Mithridates became obsessed with creating the universal antidote to all poisons, and to an extent, achieved this aim. The antidote known as mithridatium was born, very fortunately for us, a recipe for mithridatium has survived in the works of the Roman physician Celsus.
“It contains costmary 1.66 grams, sweet flag 20 grams, hypericum, gum, sagapenum, acacia juice, Illyrian iris, cardamon, 8 grams each, anise 12 grams, Gallic nard, gentian root and dried rose-leaves, 16 grams each, poppy-tears and parsley, 17 grams each, casia, saxifrage, darnel, long pepper, 20.66 grams each, storax 21 grams, castoreum, frankincense, hypocistis juice, myrrh and opopanax, 24 grams each, malabathrum leaves 24 grams, flower of round rush, turpentine-resin, galbanum, Cretan carrot seeds, 24.66 grams each, nard and opobalsam, 25 grams each, shepherd's purse 25 grams, rhubarb root 28 grams, saffron, ginger, cinnamon, 29 grams each. These are pounded and taken up in honey. Against poisoning, a piece the size of an almond is given in wine. In other affections an amount corresponding in size to an Egyptian bean is sufficient”. Celsus, De Medicina (V.23.3)
These incredible ingredients list did raise suspicion among the writers of the ancient world, which such incredibly precise ingredients raising eyebrows. The Roman author, naturalist and philosopher Pliny claims “No human brain could have been sharp enough. It is plainly a showy parade of the art, and a colossal boast of science”.
Towards the end of his life, with the Roman armies approaching him, Mithridates apparently attempted to poison himself, however, he failed due his built-up immunity due to him constantly taking mithridatum. We are given the following account by the Roman author Dio Cassius. “For the poison, although deadly, did not prevail over him, since he had inured his constitution to it, taking precautionary antidotes in large doses every day”.
At a later date, we will be doing a series dedicated to Mithridates VI
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