Phanagoria was among the most important Greek colonies on the Tammanian peninsula and served as one of Mithridates VI's key Pontic strongholds — until it wasn't. In 63 BC, the city staged a revolt against him, the first major defection of his final collapse, reportedly led in part by his own son Pharnaces II. This piece predates that betrayal by roughly four decades, struck during the early consolidation of Mithridatic control over the Bosporan region following his annexation of the kingdom around 108 BC.
Phanagoria was among the most important Greek colonies on the Tammanian peninsula and served as one of Mithridates VI's key Pontic strongholds — until it wasn't. In 63 BC, the city staged a revolt against him, the first major defection of his final collapse, reportedly led in part by his own son Pharnaces II. This piece predates that betrayal by roughly four decades, struck during the early consolidation of Mithridatic control over the Bosporan region following his annexation of the kingdom around 108 BC.