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The Genealogy of Mithridatium: Origins and Historical Background—Mithradates VI Eupator or Mithridates VI from Iran?

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 PhD Student, Department of History of Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Scientific Student Association of History of Medicine, Pharmacy and Veterinary, Stedents Scientific Research Center, Tehran

3 Work done at History of Medicine, Independent Researcher, Tehran, Iran

4 Associate Professor, Molecular Dermatology Research Center,

5 Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

6 Universal Scientific Education and Research Network,

7 Smart University of Medical Sciences,

10.30476/smsj.2025.103175.1551

Abstract

“Mithridatium” is one of the most renowned antidotes in history, traditionally attributed to the king of Asia Minor. This study aimed to identify and report the historical and medical background of this remedy. Using a qualitative, documentary research method, this study reviewed information from medical and historical texts to define the true identity of Mithridatium The findings revealed that, despite its historical background, lexical and semantic transformations, and the Hellenic origins of its creator, Mithridatium was invented by Mithridates VI (134 to 63 B.C.), the king of the ancient Anatolian Kingdom of Pontus who was of mixed Persian and Greek ancestry in the Black Sea region. Regardless of its genealogy, the Greek form of Mithridates’ antidote, known as Mithridatium, permeated Persian medicine (PM) and became firmly established. What is clear is that Mithridatium had an Iranian origin, with semantic transformation in PM.

Keywords

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Sadra Medical Journal
Volume 13, Issue 1
January 2025
Pages 203-215
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