Pontos. Amisos. Time of Mithradates VI Eupator 120-63 BC.
Bronze Æ

28 mm, 20,85 g

Male head to right, wearing bashlyk / Quiver and unstrung bow; AMI-ΣΟΥ across field.

Very Fine

SNG Stancomb 669; RG 13; SNG Copenhagen 131; SNG von Aulock 57-58; SNG BM Black Sea 1135-8; HGC 7, 236

Mithridates VI Eupator, the king of Pontus, was given the epithet "Eupator" as part of his royal title. "Eupator" in Greek means "benefactor" or "noble father," which was a common element in the titles of Hellenistic rulers. This epithet was used to emphasize the ruler's beneficence and connection to his people. The connection between Mithridates VI Eupator and the Greek god Dionysus appears to be based on his efforts to align himself with the mythology and symbolism associated with Dionysus. By adopting the name "Dionysus" as an extension of his own name, Mithridates sought to draw parallels between his rule and the mythical narratives of liberation, renewal, and resistance that were associated with Dionysus. Dionysus was a deity associated with wine, festivities, and freedom from societal norms. His stories often involved themes of overthrowing oppressive forces and establishing new beginnings. Mithridates might have chosen to associate himself with Dionysus in order to convey the message that he was a liberator and a figure who defied foreign rule, in his case against Rome, just as Dionysus defied conventions and brought about transformation.