View source for Monime

{{short description|Macedonian Greek noblewoman}}
'''Monime''', sometimes known as '''Monima'''<ref name="ancientlibrary.com">{{cite web |url=http://ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2220.html |title=Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, page 1112 (V. 2) |accessdate=2010-11-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220182649/http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2220.html |archivedate=2011-02-20 }}</ref> ({{langx|el|Μονίμη}}; died 72/71 BC), was a [[Macedonians (Greeks)|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)|Stratonicea, Caria]]. Monime was the daughter of a prominent citizen called Philopoemen.<ref name="Mayor, p.165">Mayor, ''The Poison King: the life and legend of Mithradates, Rome’s deadliest enemy'' p.165</ref> Monime was a beautiful, intelligent woman and was much talked about among the Greeks.<ref name="Mayor, p.165"/>
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.<ref name="Mayor, p.165"/>
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.<ref name="Mayor, p.165"/> Because he found Monime irresistible, Mithridates VI agreed.{{Cn|date=January 2021}}
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 [[Sinop, Turkey|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 Philostorgos II|Athenais]].<ref>Mayor, ''The Poison King: the life and legend of Mithradates, Rome’s deadliest enemy'' p.405</ref>
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.<ref>Mayor, ''The Poison King: the life and legend of Mithradates, Rome’s deadliest enemy'' p.218</ref> 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 (antiquity)|Kingdom of Armenia]], Monime was put to death at [[Giresun|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.<ref name="ancientlibrary.com"/>
==In fiction==
Monime is a character in Racine's five-act tragedy ''[[Mithridate (Racine)|Mithridate]]''. The actresses [[Marie Champmeslé]] and [[Rachel (actress)|Rachel]] played the part of Monime.{{Cn|date=January 2021}}
She is also a character in [[Steven Saylor]]'s novel ''Wrath of the Furies''.{{Cn|date=January 2021}}
She is characterized as an albino in [[Colleen McCollough]]’s novel ''[[The Grass Crown (novel)|The Grass Crown]]''.{{Cn|date=January 2021}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==Sources==
* https://web.archive.org/web/20110220182649/http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2220.html
* {{cite book |last=Mayor |first=A. |title=The Poison King: the life and legend of Mithradates, Rome's deadliest enemy |publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] |year=2009}}
[[Category:70s BC deaths]]
[[Category:1st-century BC Greek women]]
[[Category:1st-century BC Asian people]]
[[Category:People from the Kingdom of Pontus]]
[[Category:1st-century BC Greek people]]
[[Category:Roman-era Macedonians]]
[[Category:Anatolian Greeks]]
[[Category:Ancient Macedonian queens consort]]
[[Category:Ancient Pontic Greeks]]
[[Category:Mithridatic dynasty]]
[[Category:Wives of Mithridates VI Eupator]]