Silphium

Q: What was silphium?

Silphium (known to the Romans as "laser") was a medicinal, aromatic plant that grew in the region of Cyrene, North Africa. It was a popular seasoning, medicine, and contraceptive which was extinct by the time of Pliny the Elder (23-79 CE) due to overgrazing and overharvesting.

Q: Why was silphium so popular in the ancient Mediterranean?

Silphium was understood as a cure-all, a seasoning for food, an aromatic, a contraceptive, and a food source. It seems to have had various uses and was in high demand.

Q: Is the silphium seed the source for the heart symbol today?

No. The silphium seed, which appeared on the coins of Cyrene and looks like the heart symbol, has nothing to do with the modern-day image. Silphium was neither the only nor the most effective contraceptive and was not associated with romantic love in ancient Rome.

Q: What happened to silphium?

Silphium was driven to extinction by overharvesting and overgrazing in Cyrenaica between c. 96 BCE and c. 79 CE. This event is considered the first recorded human-induced extinction in history.

Joshua J. Mark

Silphium

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Definition

Silphium (also known as laser) was an uncultivated plant that grew in Cyrene, North Africa (modern Shahhat, Libya) and became the cash crop of the region of Cyrenaica between c. 631 BCE and the 1st century CE when, according to Pliny the Elder, it had become extinct. Its disappearance is considered the first recorded species extinction in history.

More about: Silphium

Timeline

c. 631 BCE - c. 79 CE
Silphium is the major cash crop of the city of Cyrene and surrounding Cyrenaica in North Africa.
276 BCE - 250 BCE
Magas rules as king of Cyrene; silphium plant is featured prominently on currency.
c. 96 BCE - c. 79 CE
Silphium is harvested and overgrazed to extinction.

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