Due aspetti della propaganda mitridatica alla luce di un decreto efesino (I.Ephesos 8)

Abstract

his paper examines the first decree of I.Ephesos 8, dated to the end of the First Mithridatic War. The decree completely rewrites the role, be- haviour and political position of Ephesos during the war, which are here firstly examined. Secondly, the most relevant rhetorical and ideological elements of the text are explained. By confrontation with later ancient historiography on the Mithridatic wars, it is argued that two key argu- ments against Mithridates contained in the decree can be traced back to Mithridatic propaganda, and that the Ephesian elite used them to say precisely the opposite, i.e. to criticize Mithridates