The speeches in Appian's Mithridateios: A Preliminary approach

Abstract

Appian’s Mithridatheios contains a considerable number of formal speeches, to which others found by the author in his sources could have been added, but he chose not to develop them. Most of these passages relate to the First Mithridatic War, in line with the prominence that Appian attributes to Sulla in the crisis of the Roman Republic. While the Roman general delivers the longest speeches in this work, Mithridates has only three, which also appear notably abbreviated. Very possibly, Pompeius Trogus’ historical work was the source for the main rhetorical passages.

Keywords

• Apiano
• Mithridateios
• Mitrídates
• Sila
• Pompeyo Trogo