The Silphion (silphium) plant had great value during the Roman Empire. The saplings of its leaves which had a gum like resin were valued at the same price as the precious metal, silver. Ancient Greeks valued the plant so much they inscribed it on their money. Cyrenaica was an ancient Greek city and was known as the most important city of the Pentapolis geographic region. The Silphion plant was first discovered along the coast of Cyrenaica which is now part of North Africa. Though it was once thought to be a treasure of the ancient Roman empire, it became extinct. Was it eaten into extinction? It’s very possible!
Ferula Drudeana plant
What Did Ancient Civilizations Use it For?
Ancient civilizations heavily used the Silphium plant for its numerous therapeutic and medicinal qualities. The plant has anti-cancerous, contraceptive and anti-inflammatory compounds. Notable Greek physician, Hippocrates tried to cultivate the plant in order to bring it into mainland Greece but he was not successful in his efforts. The plant could only be harvested in the wild. Soranus, another physician would prescribe the plant for contraceptive purposes. It was also used by the ancients to treat diseases such as sciatic, intestinal disorders, pain, epilepsy, hernia and tumors. Silphion was also thought to be an aphrodisiac and used by Ancient Egyptians for ritual practices. It was also used as a spice to flavor Roman dishes.
The Researcher Observing the Silphion Plant
Mahmut Miski, a pharmacognosy researcher at Instanbul University, believes that he has rediscovered the silphion plant which he suspects is the Ferula Drudeana which currently grows on a volcano in Turkey named Mt. Hasan. Both plants display the same anti-cancerous properties and have similar physical appearances. This isn’t the first time that Silphion was thought to be rediscovered. In 1909, German engineer and plant collector, Walter Siehe discovered the species as Ferula Ovina. It was then re-named Ferula Drudeana by Komarov Botanical Institute in 1930.
Dr. Mahmut Miski, Instanbul University
The Ferula species has been found in different locations in Anatolia which is present day Turkey. The locations in Anatolia where the Ferula plant exists were former Greek villages. Dr. Miski was carrying out postdoctoral research almost forty years ago when he first discovered the plant. He noticed various similarities between the two plants that are in line with how the ancient plant once looked on ancient Greek coins and texts.
Ancient Greek Coins which shows the appearance of the Silphion plant
Ancient Greek Coin
Both Ferula Drudeana and Silphion display the same type of thick branch roots, yellow flowers and celery like leaves. Miski has followed a method called cold stratification to grow the species in a greenhouse. He’s conducting research on Ferula Drudeana after receiving a grant to collect specimens of the plant.
Miski, M. (2021). Next chapter in the legend of silphion: Preliminary morphological, chemical, biological and pharmacological evaluations, initial conservation studies, and reassessment of the regional extinction event. Plants, 10(1), 102. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10010102
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