A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

(Πυθοδωρίς), queen of Pontus. She was the daughter of Pythodorus of Tralles, the friend of Pompey : and became the wife of Polemon I. king of Pontus, and the Bosporus. After the death of Polemon she retained possession of Colchis as well as of Pontus itself, though the kingdom of Bosporus was wrested from her power. She subsequently married Archelaus, king of Cappadocia, but after his death (A. D. 17) returned to her own kingdom, of which she continued to administer the affairs herself until her decease, which probably did not take place until A. D. 38. She is said by her contemporary Strabo to have been a woman of virtuous character, and of great capacity for business, so that her dominions flourished much under her rule. Of her two sons, the one, Zenon, became king of Armenia, while the other, Polemon, after assisting her in the administration of her kingdom during her life, succeeded her on the throne of Pontus. (Strab. xi. p.499, xii. pp. 555, 556, 557, 560, xiv. p. 649 ; Eckhel, vol. ii. p. 370.)

[E.H.B]