Monime

Monime, sometimes known as Monima (; died 72/71 BC), was a Macedonian Greek noblewoman from Anatolia and one of the wives of King Mithridates VI of Pontus.

According to the ancient sources she was a citizen of either Miletus or Stratonicea, Caria. Monime was the daughter of a prominent citizen called Philopoemen. Monime was a beautiful, intelligent woman and was much talked about among the Greeks.

In the beginning of their marriage, she exercised great influence over her husband; however this did not last long. In the end they had an unhappy marriage and he later became dissatisfied with her. Monime later repented her marriage to Mithridates VI, her elevation, and leaving her native city.

In 72/71 BC, when her husband was compelled to abandon his dominions and took refuge in the Kingdom of Armenia, Monime was put to death at Pharnacia. Her correspondence to Mithridates VI, which was of a licentious character, fell into the hands of Roman General Pompey at the capture of the fortress at Caenon Phrourion.

In fiction

Monime is a character in Racine's five-act tragedy Mithridate. The actresses Marie Champmeslé and Rachel played the part of Monime.

She is also a character in Steven Saylor's novel Wrath of the Furies.

She is characterized as an albino in Colleen McCollough’s novel The Grass Crown.