---
product_id: 8051270
title: "Adrienne MayorThe Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome's Deadliest Enemy"
brand: "adrienne mayor"
price: "A$54"
currency: AUD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 9
url: https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/8051270-adrienne-mayorthe-poison-king-the-life-and-legend-of-mithradates
store_origin: AU
region: Australia
---

# Adrienne MayorThe Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome's Deadliest Enemy

**Brand:** adrienne mayor
**Price:** A$54
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Adrienne MayorThe Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome's Deadliest Enemy by adrienne mayor
- **How much does it cost?** A$54 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.com.au](https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/8051270-adrienne-mayorthe-poison-king-the-life-and-legend-of-mithradates)

## Best For

- adrienne mayor enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted adrienne mayor brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Description

Adrienne MayorThe Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome's Deadliest Enemy

## Images

![Adrienne MayorThe Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome's Deadliest Enemy - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41Ne07rR1uL.jpg)
![Adrienne MayorThe Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome's Deadliest Enemy - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31IxEhS2JDL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Medium of book
  

*by C***S on Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2023*

This hardcover Princeton Press edition is signature bound in a hardback.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Biography or Tom Clancy novel set in antiquity?
  

*by C***N on Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2011*

I stumbled upon this book while doing research for a novel I am writing.  My story involves a scene in which a city has its main cistern poisoned by Romans during a siege.  As I was studying poisons of the ancient world (my story is set in First Century BCE Pontus), I saw a book on the subject, 
  
Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, and Scorpion Bombs: Biological & Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World







  
  
    , by Stanford research professor Adrienne Mayor.  I noted that she had also written a biography on Mithradates VI, so I decided to order both from Amazon.  Glad I did.This book begins like many biographies do, with details and background information, and it was what I would term a "conventional read" up until Page 76.  That is the departure point for the never ending flight that would be Mithradates' life.  He and his teenage companions use the ruse of going out on a hunting party to escape from his family kingdom (Mithradates had good reason to believe that his mother was intending to poison him).  From this point on, the book reads like a Tom Clancy novel set in antiquity, complete with narrow escapes, detailed explanations regarding arms and tactics (especially ancient poisons, one of Mayor's fields of expertise), and portentious acts and consequences.  The pacing is quick, and once the hook was set I could not put the book down.  I cruised through 300 pages the day after Thanksgiving, excitedly plowing though it as fast as I could.I have read some of the negative reviews, and I did not find her pro-multiculturalistic, anti-West/GWB slant to be irritating (and I would wager that I am far, far more politically conservative than the author, BTW).  Certainly one does not have to be a zealot for multiculturalism to appreciate the polyglot giftings of Mithradates, who could allegedly write and speak in all 22 languages of his realm.  What bias might be present is not shrill, so I would not warn anyone away from reading the book based on such concerns.Informative and entertaining, I consider the pittance I spent on the paperback money well spent.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    All Hail The Poison King
  

*by A***1 on Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2020*

This book is a masterful work about the famous king Mithridates VI. I could not put it down. The only thing I dislike about it is that it wasn't longer. An extraordinary man, an extraordinary historical personage, an extraordinary king, Mithridates has gone down in history as the Roman Republic's last and most dangerous foe prior to its transition to an empire. Yet, and as Mayor expertly explores, there is so much more that fascinates the modern reader about the life of this great king that is often left out in historical school rooms or discourses or even other historical texts, which often gloss over Mithridates as just another eastern ruler conquered by Rome.It took Rome some 4 decades and change to "subdue" Mithridates, and it must be said that in the end it wasn't even the Romans who defeated him but the machinations of his own feckless son and heir, Pharnaces. (It was after the rapid defeat of this Pharnaces that Caesar famously quipped "veni, vidi, vici")I highly, highly recommend this book. This ancient king, born and crowned under celestial auspices, who saw himself and was seen as a new Alexander the Great, is 1 of the most interesting characters in history and justly deserves more modern recognition.

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/8051270-adrienne-mayorthe-poison-king-the-life-and-legend-of-mithradates](https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/8051270-adrienne-mayorthe-poison-king-the-life-and-legend-of-mithradates)

---

*Product available on Desertcart Australia*
*Store origin: AU*
*Last updated: 2026-01-23*