The history

At the beginning of the Christian Era, the Kings of Pontos were also called Mithradates. Mithradates the Sixth was at the height of his powers in 11 BC. After he had conquered the most important territories of the Crimean, he focused on conquering Asia Minor. A blinding conflict with the Romans caused Mithradates to take refuge and to let the Romans rule. Mithradates died in 63 AD.

Mozart & Mitridate

MITRIDATE, Ponto and Arbate are names taken from the work 'Mitridate, re di Ponto', one of the operas in three acts written and composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. For years on end, Mitridate, re di Ponto was Mozart's most neglected work. In the past two decades, however, this opera gained in popularity because of the really spectacular performances in, for instance, London and Lyon theatres and also because of the movie produced by Jean-Pierre Ponelle and directed by Nikolaus Harnoncourt.