Silphium: The Miracle Plant The Romans Wiped Out

Joshua J. Mark
by Cogito
published on


Miracle contraceptive, wonder drug, aphrodisiac, the origin of the heart symbol, and hemorrhoid cure??? Tiktok, National Geographic, even FACEBOOK are all obsessed with this plant, Silphium, which grew over 2000 years ago here near Cyrene, Libya. It’s been called THE most effective contraceptive of the ancient world. But the ancient randy Romans boinked this plant into extinction by the first century CE. Making Silphium the first victim of human-induced extinction.


But is this story actually true? Who killed Silphium? And what does it have to do with a Beaver based birth-control? Let's find out!

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Cite This Work

APA Style

Cogito. (2023, July 03). Silphium: The Miracle Plant The Romans Wiped Out. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/video/2977/silphium-the-miracle-plant-the-romans-wiped-out/

Chicago Style

Cogito. "Silphium: The Miracle Plant The Romans Wiped Out." World History Encyclopedia, July 03, 2023. https://www.worldhistory.org/video/2977/silphium-the-miracle-plant-the-romans-wiped-out/.

MLA Style

Cogito. "Silphium: The Miracle Plant The Romans Wiped Out." World History Encyclopedia, 03 Jul 2023, https://www.worldhistory.org/video/2977/silphium-the-miracle-plant-the-romans-wiped-out/.

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