Bosporus in the orbit of amicitia: Roman diplomacy after the death of Mithridates VI Eupator
Journal: Ancient World and Archaeology
Year: 2025

The article is devoted to the analysis of Roman foreign-policy amicitia in the Bosporan Kingdom in the 1st century BC. The author shows that amicitia in the Roman understanding represented not so much personal as socio-political and diplomatic ties based on mutual benefit, obligations, and moral categories such as fides, benevolentia, and gratia. Particular attention is given to the figures of Machares and Pharnaces, the sons of Mithridates VI Eupator, who were the first to establish friendly re