Final answer:
Silphium was highly valued in ancient times for its medicinal properties, flavoring, and perfume, and was an important trade item, making it worth its weight in silver.
Step-by-step explanation:
People in ancient times highly valued silphium for several reasons. Silphium, which is now extinct, was a plant that grew in the region of Cyrenaica (present-day Libya) and was used for its medicinal properties, flavoring, and as a perfume. The plant's sap was believed to have various medical uses, such as treating coughs, sore throats, fever, indigestion, and was even thought to have contraceptive qualities. Therefore, silphium was a highly sought-after trade item in the Mediterranean world, especially among the Greeks and Romans, causing it to be worth its weight in silver and contributing to the wealth of the city of Cyrene. Sadly, due to high demand and possibly overharvesting, silphium became extinct sometime after the 1st century AD.