Ancient Greek Terracotta Vases of the Mithridate Krater, 20th Century, Set of 2

PAIR OF ANCIENT GREEK TERRACOTTA VASES REPRODUCTION OF THE MITHRIDATE KRATER PATINATED WITH BLACK WAX Global terracotta vase of our production, copy of a vase of classical origin. Known as the "Krater of Mithridates V Eupator". One of the most beautiful vases in our entire collection. Reproduction in bronze-patinated terracotta. HEIGHT 66 cm DIAMETER 55 cm WEIGHT 18 Kg ARTIST / DESIGNER / ARCHITECT Casting from the first century BC of Greek origin SQUARE BASE - SIDE X SIDE 28 x 28 cm MAXIMUM WIDTH 75 cm MATERIAL Terracotta from Impruneta NOTE 01 Handmade in Tuscany The ancient original: Krater of Mithridates V Eupator 120-63 BC in Bronze. Provenance: from Anzio, Villa of Nero (18th century) - It probably comes from the spoils of war collected in one of the battles against Mithridates Eupator, king of Pontus (63 BC) Acquisition data: Gift of Benedict XIV. Inventory of the Capitoline Museums, Rome, Campidoglio: inv. MC1068 Mithridates Eupator Dionysius (132 BC – Panticapeum, 63 BC), known as Mithridates the Great and called in modern historiography Mithridates VI of Pontus or simply Mithridates VI, was a Pontic ruler, eighth king of Pontus from 111 BC to his death. He is remembered as one of the most formidable adversaries of the Roman Republic, which forced three Mithridatic wars, engaging three of the greatest Roman generals, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Lucius Licinius Lucullus and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus. He is also said to have been the sixteenth descendant of Darius the Great of Persia and the eighth since Mithridates I had abandoned Macedonia and founded the kingdom of Pontus. Son of Mithridates V (150-120 BC) and Laodice of Syria; his date of birth is a matter of discussion among ancient historians: in fact, Strabo states that Mithridates was 11 years old at the death of his father in a conspiracy (x. P. 477) and his testimony agrees with Appian according to whom Mithridates became king in 120 BC and died in 68/69 reigning for 57; Memnon, on the other hand, states that he was thirteen and Cassius Dio sixteen, when he came to power. The birth (or conception) of Mithridates is associated with a comet (a symbol of misfortune in Rome, but of excellent omen among the Persians), a particularly large and visible comet was that of 135 BC, well reported by several ancient sources, even non-classical ones, such as the Chinese annals (see The Poison King, Life and Legend of Mithridates, Archenemy of Rome, Adrienne Mayor, Einaudi, 2010).