Kuka naimisissa Monime?

Monime, sometimes known as Monima (Greek: Μονίμη; died 72/71 BC), was a Macedonian Greek 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 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, as he was attracted to powerful personalities whose intelligence complemented his. Mithridates VI thought of making Monime the jewel of his harem, and began negotiations with Philopoemen. Mithridates VI offered him 1500 gold pieces. Monime rejected the offer and 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. Because he found Monime irresistible, Mithridates VI agreed.

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. They 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 was appointed 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 did not 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 leaving her native city.

In 72/71 BC, when her husband was compelled to abandon his 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.

Mithridates VI Eupator Dionysos (m.kreik. Μιθριδάτης Εὐπάτωρ Διόνυσος, 132 eaa. – 63 eaa., myös Mithridates Suuri) oli Pontoksen kuningas 120–63 eaa. Hänen isänsä oli kuningas Mithridates V Euergetes. Mithridates oli hellenistisen kulttuurin omaksunut hallitsija, Pontoksen merkittävin kuningas ja Rooman valtakunnan vaarallisin vihollinen ensimmäisellä vuosisadalla eaa.

Mithridates laajensi valtakuntaansa ympäri Mustanmeren rantoja, ja hän ajautui kolmesti sotaan Rooman valtakuntaa vastaan. Ensimmäisessä sodassa (89 eaa.–85 eaa.) hän valtasi suuren osan Vähää-Aasiaa ja Rooman valtakunnalle kuuluneet osat, jolloin hänen sanotaan teloittaneen 80 000 roomalaista. Mithridates valtasi myös Kreikan, mutta konsuli Sulla kukisti hänen joukkonsa vuonna 85 eaa., ja Mithridateen oli luovuttava valloituksistaan. Toinen sota (83 eaa.–81 eaa.) oli suppeampi laajuudeltaan. Kolmannessa sodassa (73 eaa.–63 eaa.) roomalaiset sotapäälliköt Lucullus ja Pompeius kukistivat Mithridateen perusteellisesti. Mithridates surmasi tai surmautti itsensä jouduttuaan poikansa Farnakes II:n syrjäyttämäksi.