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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;kirispupis, post: 7994247, member: 118780&quot;]Strange discussion. Silphium is well-documented in antiquity not only through coins, but also through pottery and first-hand accounts. There&#039;s no doubt that such a plant existed. The real question is whether it truly had any of the medicinal qualities attributed to it.</p><p><br /></p><p>It&#039;s so common for cultures to exaggerate or even misrepresent the medicinal uses of herbs, that I&#039;m highly doubtful that it truly worked as advertised. However, I do think there are some fascinating questions if it did. After all, clearly the plant must have <i>done something</i> for the entire economy of Kyrene to be based on it and for the entire world to go so nuts. Either that, or someone back then was the all time master of brand marketing. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><br /></p><p>Some questions I wonder about it:</p><p>- If it <i>did</i> induce abortions, would the Catholic church have tolerated it?</p><p>- Would it have contributed to our medical knowledge today?</p><p>- Would Kyrene have been a major player through medieval times had it continued to be produced?</p><p>- Would national borders be different today had it continued?</p><p>- Would it be a staple of our culinary experience today?[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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