
Packaging Silphium for Export, 580 BC

by Science Source
Title
Packaging Silphium for Export, 580 BC
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Science Source
Medium
Photograph
Description
King Arcesilas of Cyrenaica (eastern coastal region of present-day Libya) overseeing the packaging of silphium (the country's main source of income) into ships for export. Gouache painting after a Spartan cylix, c. 580-550 B.C. Silphium is an unidentified plant that was used in classical antiquity as a seasoning, perfume, aphrodisiac, contraceptive, and medicine. It was so vital to the Cyrenian economy that their coins were stamped with an image of the plant. It is now believed to be one of the first plants to go extinct from man-made climate change, after deforestation and erosion caused a devastating change in the microclimate where the plant was grown. Background colorized.
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December 15th, 2023
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