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pankajdoharey | 1 month ago

I think the ingredient Silphium described in this dish (Now considered extinct) could be Sea Holly (Eryngium spp). Its highly debated as many authors think it is some extinct variety of fennel, but from the images on the coins it doesnt look like a Fennel.

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ithkuil|1 month ago

I believe there are more descriptions of it other than rough depictions on coins

dr_dshiv|1 month ago

culi|1 month ago

The best explanation I've heard is that it was a sterile hybrid of two Ferula species. Many Ferula have a long history of mythology behind them. Asafoetida (aka hing) is probably where the heart symbol came from (its roughly heart-shaped root was used as an aphrodisiac).

Silphium similarly had much demand as an aphrodisiac.

This hybrid likely grew in the African Mediterranean and the high demand for it, alongside its inability to reproduce through seed, is probably what led to its extinction.

pankajdoharey|1 month ago

Could be but the central bulb as made on the coins is unlike a fennel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silphium , and since this imaginary recipe is a part of a comedy it is unlikely to be edible. If you look at other ingredients they can surely make someone sick.

nephihaha|1 month ago

Romans had very different palates from the modern west.