Pontus Ancient kingdom of ne Anatolia (Turkey). The coastal cities were colonized by Greeks in the 6th–5th centuries bc, and retained virtual autonomy under the Persian Empire. The kingdom of Pontus reached the height of its power under Mithridates VI ( the Great), who conquered Asia Minor, gained control of the Crimea, and threatened Rome. After Mithridates' defeat by Pompey (65 bc), Pontus was divided up under Roman rule, but it maintained its commercial prosperity.

Pontus an ancient region of northern Asia Minor, on the Black Sea coast north of Cappadocia. It reached its height between 120 and 63 bc under Mithridates VI, when it dominated the whole of Asia Minor; by the end of the 1st century bc it had been defeated by Rome and absorbed into the Roman Empire.