View of the Uffizi and the Palazzo Vecchio [reverse] 1561

This bronze medal, crafted by Domenico Poggini around the 16th century, features a rendering of the Uffizi and Palazzo Vecchio, but it is the figure in the foreground that draws our attention. Here, we see a woman, often identified as Justice, carrying scales in one hand and a cornucopia in the other. The scales, of course, symbolize the balancing of evidence, a rational approach to fairness, while the cornucopia speaks to prosperity and abundance. But let us reflect for a moment on the deeper roots of these symbols. Consider the ancient Egyptian goddess Ma'at, also associated with truth, justice, and cosmic order. Her image, like that of Justice, embodies the profound human desire for equilibrium and social harmony. The presence of Justice in this Florentine scene is no mere decoration; it is a statement, a declaration of the city’s aspirations for civic virtue and balanced governance. The image resonates with a psychological depth—appealing to our collective yearning for order and equity, a yearning as old as civilization itself. It is a potent reminder that the language of symbols transcends time, reappearing in ever-new forms.