Silphium in Ancient Art

Authors

  • محمد عمر محمد عبدربه قسم الآثار, جامعة عُمر المختار, البيضاء Translator

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64516/4xn9rp10

Abstract

This article is an Arabic translation of the original paper written by Emanuela Fabbricotti from the Università of Degli Studi G.D'Annunzio', Chieti, Italy. It was published in the Journal of Libyan Studies/ London, 1993 volume 24, pages 27-33.

The paper deals with the study of the plant of Silphium in ancient art. This important plant appeared in the Cyrenaica region, mainly in Cyrene city. The article provides evidence of the history of the plant's appearance based on ancient sources.

The article also investigates the characteristics of the Silphium plant and its fruits through archaeological evidence of the plant engraved on coins, capitals, statues, and others. Moreover, it reveals symbols that closely resemble the plant of Silphium found in some sites outside the Cyrenaica region, such as the ones found in (Cnossos).

The author confirms through the study that Silphium was the source of wealth in Cyrene, and that it not only brought it money and wealth, but was also an effective treatment for many diseases. The article concludes that the depiction of Silphium on coins, capitals, and others was not just simple and meanless symbols, but as a demonstration of the great political, economic, and medical power of Cyrene.

References

1. E.S.G. Robinson, Catalogue of Greek coins of Cyrenaica, British Museum, London 1927, 254.

2. ibid., n. 30b, pi. XXXVI, 36.

3. ibid., n. 2a, pi. I, 8 and n. 92, pi. XI, 1.

4. Historia Indica, cap. XLIII, 13.

5. A. Evans. The Palace of Minos at Knossos, I, London 1921, p.28.

6. A. Evans, ibid., n. 6 and II, p. 54; Scripta MinoaI, Oxford 1909, p. 215f., nn. 92 and 93.

7. BMC Cyrenaica, nn.11 and 12, pi. II, 20 and 21. F. Studniczka, Kyrene, eine altgriechischen Gottin, Leipzig 1990, p. 21, figs 16 and 17.

8. Inv. n. 1054.

9. G. Gumm, D. Johannes, Kunst Der Ptolemäer und Römerzeit im Ägyptischen Museum Kairo, Mainz 1975, p.18, pi.10 and 11.

10. BMC Cyrenaica, p. 245.

11. Pyth. IV, 260-1; IX, 36-9.

12. P. Pensabene, Statuine fittili votive dalla χωρα cirenea, in Quaderni Libia XII, p. 93 ss.

13. H.B. Walters, Cat. Of Terracottas in the Dept. of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, London 1907, p.130, pi. IX, n. B 359; R.A. Higgings, Cat. of Terracottas in the Dept. of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum I, London 1954, p. 384, n. 1447.

14. غير منشورة. أود أن أقدم جزيل الشكر لإبنة البروفيسور آنتي على إعطائي الصورة

15. Scholii ad Aristophanes, Equit. 894; Scholii ad Theocrit. V, 53 in FHGII, 190.

16. Scholii ad Pind. Pyth. IV, 4; Ferecide, Scholii ad Apoll. Rh. Argon. II 500, in FHG I, 72.

17. Scholii ad Aristophanes, Plut. 925.

18. L. Vitali, Fonti per la storia della religione cirenaica, Padova 1932, p. 123.

19. E.v.n Mercklin, Antike Figuralkapitelle, Berlin 1962, n. 764, Fig.1403; P. Mingazzini, L'insuladi Giasone Magno a Cirene, Roma 1966, p. 57, pi. XXXVI, 3; S. Stucchi, Architettura Cirenaica, Roma 1975, p. 326, Fig. 339.

20. S. Stucchi, Architettura Cirenaica, p. 263/4, Fig. 261.

21. 925.

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Published

2025-03-30

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Articles

How to Cite

Silphium in Ancient Art (عبدربه م. ع. م., Trans.). (2025). Delalat Journal of Humanities and Educational Sciences, 13, 354-362. https://doi.org/10.64516/4xn9rp10

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