Battle of Mount Scorobas

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Battle of Mount Scorobas
Part of the First Mithridatic War
Date88 BC
Location
Mount Scorobas, in modern Turkey
41°7′0.001″N30°37′59.999″E / 41.11666694°N 30.63333306°E / 41.11666694; 30.63333306
Result Pontic victory
Belligerents
Pontus Roman Republic
Commanders and leaders
Archelaus Manius Aquilius
Turkey relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Location within Turkey
Map of the Black Sea with bathymetry and surrounding relief.svg
Red pog.svg
Battle of Mount Scorobas (Black Sea)

The Battle of Mount Scorobas was fought in 88 BC between the Roman Republic and Pontus during the First Mithridatic War. The Romans were led by Manius Aquilius, while the Mithridatic forces were led by Archelaus. Pontus was victorious. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

After the battle, Aquillius fled and attempted to make his way back to Italy. At Lesbos he was captured and delivered to Mithridates. After being taken to the mainland, Aquillius was then placed on a donkey and paraded back to Pergamon. Aquillius was then moved to and executed at the Theater of Dionysus, which sits on a hill of the Acropolis. A large bonfire was made in the center of the theater. Aquillius was dragged behind a horse, which was ridden by a soldier, and dragged around the bonfire, as gold coins were melted down in crucibles. Aquillius was then held down and the molten hot gold was poured down his throat for an agonizing death. [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [3] [4] [5]

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References

  1. Appian, Mithridatica, 11, 19.
  2. Livy, Epitome, lxxvii.
  3. 1 2 Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. I, p. 253 ("Aquillius", No. 2); vol. II, p. 1098 ("Mithridates VI").
  4. 1 2 PW, "Aquilius", No. 11.
  5. 1 2 Broughton, Magistrates of the Roman Republic, vol. II, pp. 35, 36, 43.
  6. Appian, Mithridatica, 21.
  7. Livy, Epitome, lxxviii.
  8. Velleius Paterculus, ii. 18.
  9. Cicero, Pro Lege Manilia, 5. s. 12.
  10. Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae, v. p. 213, b.

Bibliography