…, Venom Arrows, and More.
"Poison had a steady but often quiet or controversial place in the history of warfare. On one hand, it was incredibly useful. Poisoned wells could cause havoc for a thirsty army, poisoned arrows could cause wounds that festered and lead to excruciating pain for weeks, putting a strain on an army's medical staff and fear among the common soldiers.
On the other hand, poisoning was seen as uncivilized and exhausting. Poison had to be harvested and its delivery wasn't always guaranteed. Even when it was used, writers often overlooked it as it was occasionally seen as dishonorable, depending on the specific time period or culture. For example, the Greek hero Hercules openly used arrows coated in deadly Hydra venom, but the Romans seeking vengeance against Arminius did so with armies, not with any aims at poison assassination.
If there was any one figure who wholeheartedly embraced and feared the mighty potential of poisons, it was King Mithridates of Pontus. Pontus was a small kingdom on the south shore of the Black Sea. Not quite Hellenic, but not wholly Eastern, the young King Mithridates decided to lean into the Hellenic side and forge himself an empire…"
Main page
link
Amicalement
Armand
