In a remarkable discovery at the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, archaeologists have unearthed a fresco depicting the Greek mythological siblings Phrixus and Helle.
Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the director of Pompeii Archaeological Park, described the find as a poignant reflection of history unfolding once more.
Ferula Drudeana might prove a decent substitute, assuming it’s not the real thing. It seems to display the same (or very similar) properties to silphium, but the lineage has no known connection to Eastern Libya so could be convergent evolution rather than the same plant.