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Mithridate, also known as mithridatium, mithridatum, or mithridaticum, is a semi-mythical remedy with as many as 65 ingredients, used as an antidote for poisoning, and said to be created by Mithradates VI Eupator of Pontus in the 1st century BC. It was among one of the most complex, highly sought-after drugs during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, particularly in Italy and France, where they were in continual use for centuries.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Pair of Drug Jars )〕 An updated recipe called theriac (Theriacum Andromachi) was known well into the 19th century.〔"(Mithridate )".〕 Mithridate takes its name from its inventor, Mithradates VI, King of Pontus (134 to 63 BC) who is said to have so fortified his body against poisons with antidotes and preservatives, that when he tried to kill himself, he could not find any poison that would have an effect, and, according to some legends, had to ask a soldier to run him through with a sword. The recipe for the reputed antidote was found in his cabinet, written with his own hand, and was carried to Rome by Pompey. It was translated into Latin by Pompey's freedman Lenaeus, and later improved upon by Nero's physician Andromachus and Marcus Aurelius's physician Galen.〔Adrienne Mayor, "Greek Fire, Poison Arrows & Scorpion Bombs" Overlook 2003"〕 It likely underwent considerable alterations since the time of Mithradates.〔 In the Middle Ages, mithridate was also used as part of a regimen to ward off potential threats of plague. According to Simon Kellwaye (1593), one should "take a great Onyon, make a hole in the myddle of him, then fill the place with Mitridat or Triacle, and some leaues of Rue".〔Kellwaye, Simon. 1593. ''A defensatiue against the plague contayning two partes or treatises...''. 32.〕 Until as late as 1786, physicians in London could officially prescribe mithridate.〔''Nature''. 14 Sept 1989. 115/1.〕 According to historian Christopher Hill, Oliver Cromwell took a large dose of mithridate as a precaution against the plague and found it cured his pimples. The term ''mithridate'' has come to refer to any generally all-purpose antidote.〔''Sci. Monthly''. Sept 1932. 244/1.〕 ==Origins== Mithridates' father was assassinated by poisoning, according to some at his mother's orders. After this, Mithridates mother held regency over Pontus until a male heir was of age. Mithridates was in competition with another brother for the throne whom his mother favored.〔Mayor, ''The Poison King: the life and legend of Mithradates, Rome’s deadliest enemy'' p.68〕 Supposedly during his youth he began to suspect plots against him at his mother's orders and was aware of her likely connection with his father's death. He then, supposedly, began to notice pains during his meals and suspected his mother had ordered small amounts of poison to be added to his food to kill him off slowly to cause his health to deteriorate and avoid notice. With other assassination attempts he soon fled into the wilderness.〔Mayor, ''The Poison King: the life and legend of Mithradates, Rome’s deadliest enemy'' p.69〕 While in the wild it is said that he began consuming non-lethal levels of poisons and mixing many into a remedy to make him immune to many poisons. In keeping with most medical practices of his era, Mithridates' anti-poison routines included a religious component supervised by ''Agari'', or Scythian shamans who never left his side.〔Mayor, Adrienne. ''Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, and Scorpion Bombs: Biological and Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World.'' New York, Overlook Duckworth, 2003; p. 148〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Mithridate」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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