Attidius

Who is Attidius?

Attidius, possibly to be identified with Marcus Atilius Bulbus, was a senator of the Roman Republic. Sometime in the early 70s BC, he was convicted of a crime, probably maiestas, and exiled. Attidius found refuge in the court of Mithridates VI of Pontus, and the two men were friends for many years. The sole evidence for Attidius's life and career is a passage by the Greek historian Appian in his Mithridatic Wars.

Around 67 BC, during the Third Mithridatic War, Attidius joined a conspiracy to assassinate Mithridates. The plot was discovered, and the Pontic king put him to death. In recognition of his rank, Mithridates forbade his torture. The other conspirators suffered protracted torture, but the freedmen attached to Attidius were granted clemency by the king, because they were judged to have acted out of obligation to their patron.