Mithridates VI Eupator, father of the empirical toxicology

The paper analyzes the figure of Mithridates as the father of empirical toxicology Mithridates VI was the author of a book on roots and poots plants that at those times were one of the most impor important sources on venoms, which he used to secretly kill his enemies. The interest of Mithridates VI in empirical clinical toxicology is also demonstrated by the experiments that he carried out on prisoners condemned isoners to capital punishment to test poisons and antidotes. Moreover, as he was afraid to be poisoned, he starteted to protect himself against poisons by taking progressively increasing sublethal doses.