Pontus

, a kingdom of Asia Minor, bounded on the east by Colchis, west by the Halys, north by the Euxine sea, and south by part of Armenia. It was divided into three parts, according to Ptolemy; Pontus Galaticus , of which Amasia was the capital, Pontus Polemoniacus , from its chief town Polemonium, and Pontus Cappadocius , of which Trapezus was the capital. It was governed by kings, the first of whom was Artabazes, either one of the seven Persian noblemen who murdered the usurper Smerdis, or one of their descendants. The kingdom of Pontus was in its most flourishing state under Mithridates the Great. When Julius Cæsar had conquered it, it became a Roman province, though it was often governed by monarchs who were tributary to the power of Rome. Under the emperors a regular governor was always appointed over it. Pontus produced castors, whose testicles were highly valued among the ancients for their salutary qualities in medicinal proce es. Virgil , Georgics , bk. 1 , li. 58 .— Mela , bk. 1 , chs. 1 & 19.— Strabo , bk. 12 .— Cicero , De Legibus .— Man it i us. — Appian. — Ptolemy , bk. 5 , ch. 6 .――A part of Mysia in Europe, on the borders of the Euxine sea, where Ovid was banished, and from whence he wrote his four books of epistles ex Ponto , and his six books de Tristibus . Ovid , ex Ponto .――An ancient deity, father of Phorcys, Thaumas, Nereus, Eurybia, and Ceto by Terra. He is the same as Ocean us. Apollo dor us , bk. 1 , ch. 2 .