Silphium
Silphium
Silphium (pronunciation: /ˈsɪlfiəm/) is a plant genus that was used in classical antiquity as a seasoning and as a medicine. It was praised by Hippocrates, Pliny the Elder, and Dioscorides for its medicinal properties.
Etymology
The word 'Silphium' is derived from the Ancient Greek word 'σίλφιον' (silphion). The exact origin of the word is unknown, but it is believed to have been used to refer to a plant used for medicinal purposes.
Description
Silphium was a plant that was native to the region of Cyrenaica in modern-day Libya. It is believed to have been a type of giant fennel with a central stalk that could reach up to three meters in height. The plant's resin was used for various medicinal purposes.
Medicinal Uses
In ancient times, Silphium was used as a medicine for various ailments. It was used as a contraceptive, a treatment for coughs, sore throat, fever, indigestion, aches and pains, warts, and general maladies. The plant's resin was also used as a condiment.
Extinction
Silphium is believed to have gone extinct by the end of the first century AD. Overharvesting, coupled with a failure to cultivate the plant, is believed to have led to its extinction.
Related Terms
- Ferula: A genus 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. They are herbaceous perennial plants growing to 1–4 m tall, with stout, hollow, somewhat succulent stems.
- Asafoetida: Also known as devil's dung, stinking gum, asant, food of the gods, hing, and giant fennel, is a dried latex (gum oleoresin) exuded from the rhizome or tap root of several species of Ferula.
- Cyrenaica: The eastern coastal region of Libya.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Silphium
- Wikipedia's article - Silphium
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