Daphne Transformed into a Laurel Tree [reverse] after 1562

This bronze medal presents Daphne's transformation into a laurel tree, crafted by Pier Paolo Galeotti in the 16th century. Daphne, her arm raised, sprouts laurel branches, symbolizing her escape from Apollo's pursuit. This motif of transformation, deeply rooted in Ovid's Metamorphoses, echoes across centuries. We see echoes of this desperate evasion in other works, such as Bernini's marble sculpture where Daphne's fingers turn into leaves. The laurel itself, a symbol of victory and poetic triumph, evolves from a shield against unwanted desire to an emblem of cultural and artistic achievement. This transformation can also be seen as a symbolic representation of psychological defense. The collective subconscious, laden with images of flight and metamorphosis, speaks to our primal instincts for survival, reflected in Daphne's desperate choice. The medal, therefore, captures not only a mythological moment but also the enduring human impulse to resist the inevitable. The image conveys the intense emotional states of fear and resistance. This symbol resurfaces and is reinterpreted in our modern psyche.