MITHRIDATES, king of Pontus, a renowned general, and at first successful against the Romans: but being finally conquered by Pompey, and his son Pharnaces raised to the throne, who treated him with unnatural barbarity, he took poison; but this proving ineffectual, owing to a salutary medicine which he had almost constantly employed, he was slain at his own request by one of his attendants, 63 B. C. aged 72. He was a prince of extraordinary courage, capable of forming and executing the greatest designs. He had travelled a great deal, was learned, fond of men of letters, and spoke many languages. He composed a treatise De Arcanis Morborum; which Pompey caused to be carried to Rome, and which his freedman Læneus translated into Latin. It was he who composed that counter-poison which from his name is still called mithridate; but his sanguinary temper darkened the lustre of his most amiable perfections. See PONTUS.