6th century BCE – 1st century
Cyrenaica
The regional trade in silphion, a distinctive plant of Cyrenaica whose root had culinary and medicinal uses. Libyans collected it along the desert margins and supplied Greek cities, while Cyrene’s kings sought a monopoly. The profitable commodity also reached Carthage and became a recurring device on local coinage.
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The Story
Silphion grew only in Cyrenaica, especially along the desert margins south of Greek territory. Its root was valued for culinary and medicinal purposes, although the plant later disappeared during Roman times and cannot be botanically identified. The trade connected the Greek cities with Libyan communities living beyond the settled agricultural zone.
Libyans collected the roots and brought them to the Greek cities. The kings of Cyrene attempted to control the trade as a monopoly, but some silphion was smuggled westward to Carthage. Carthage consequently became, at least in part, another supplier of the plant to Mediterranean markets.
The profits of the trade were substantial enough to shape civic imagery. Silphion appeared as a favourite device on the coins of Cyrene, Barce, and Euhesperides, turning a regional product into a visible emblem of the economic world created by Greek settlement.
6th century BCE – 1st century
Cyrenaica
The regional trade in silphion, a distinctive plant of Cyrenaica whose root had culinary and medicinal uses. Libyans collected it along the desert margins and supplied Greek cities, while Cyrene’s kings sought a monopoly. The profitable commodity also reached Carthage and became a recurring device on local coinage.
Continue exploring
The Story
Silphion grew only in Cyrenaica, especially along the desert margins south of Greek territory. Its root was valued for culinary and medicinal purposes, although the plant later disappeared during Roman times and cannot be botanically identified. The trade connected the Greek cities with Libyan communities living beyond the settled agricultural zone.
The profits of the trade were substantial enough to shape civic imagery. Silphion appeared as a favourite device on the coins of Cyrene, Barce, and Euhesperides, turning a regional product into a visible emblem of the economic world created by Greek settlement.
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