Amorous Histories Podcast

Author: Annie Harrison

A podcast about the history of sex and sexuality #AmorousHistoriesPodcast
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Language: en

Genres: History

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Silphium: An ancient contraceptive
Episode 15
Friday, 13 February, 2026

Silphium was a plant much loved by the ancient Greeks due to its reported contraceptive, aphrodisiac, and abortive properties. It only grew in Cyrenica, now Libya, and was a valuable resource to the ancient Greeks who had settled in the area. It's thought that Silphium went extinct in the 1st or 2nd century CE, probably due to overharvesting and changes in the local climate. However in 2021 researchers working in Turkey thought they may have found the long lost plant. Happy Valentines Day! Cover image: A silver Attic drachm 510–470 BC. Found in the excavation of the Sanctuary of Demeter and Persephone at Cyrene. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cyrenecoin.jpg#mw-jump-to-licenseSee the show notes on the website⁠ ⁠amoroushistories.co.uk⁠⁠Find me on social media; TikTok, ⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠Twitter ⁠⁠and⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠.Drop me an email on amoroushistories@gmail.comUK Bookshop.org⁠⁠⁠ https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/amoroushistories USA Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/shop/amoroushistories Track: No Saint, Music by: https://slip.stream/