Silphium (antiquity)

Silphium (also known as silphion, laserwort, or laser) was a plant that was used in Classical antiquity as a seasoning and as a medicine. It was the essential item of trade from the ancient North African city of Cyrene, and was so critical to the Cyrenian economy that most of their coins bore a picture of the plant. The identity of silphium is unclear. It is commonly believed to be a now-extinct plant of the genus Ferula, perhaps a variety of Ferula tingitana, but this cannot be said with certainty. Some writers have suggested that the silphium plant was identical to the giant fennel (Ferula communis), but this is unlikely, as that species is not extinct.

History

Silphium was an important species in prehistory, as evidenced by the quantity of its pollen found in the tombs of ancient Egypt. It was used by the Egyptians for its medicinal properties, and was a popular condiment on the tables of ancient Rome. The exact identity of this ancient plant is uncertain, though it is often identified with a species of the genus Ferula, a group of about 170 species of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae, native to the Mediterranean region east to central Asia, mostly growing in arid climates.

Uses

Silphium was used in Greco-Roman cuisine as a seasoning, perfume, aphrodisiac, and medicine. It was the essential item of trade from the ancient North African city of Cyrene, and was so critical to the Cyrenian economy that most of their coins bore a picture of the plant. The valuable product was harvested by pulling it up from the roots, drying it, and then grinding it into a powder. It was used to treat a wide range of medical conditions, from coughs and sore throats to epilepsy and tapeworms.

Extinction

The cause of silphium's supposed extinction is not entirely known. The plant grew along a narrow coastal area, about 125 by 35 miles (201 by 56 km), in Cyrenaica (in present-day Libya). Much of the speculation about the cause of its extinction rests on a sudden demand for animals that grazed on the plant, for some supposed effect on the quality of the meat. Overgrazing combined with overharvesting may have led to its extinction.

Legacy

Despite its extinction, silphium has left a lasting legacy. Its heart-shaped seed pod became a symbol of love in ancient times, and is believed to have been the inspiration for the traditional heart shape (♥) used today.