Cappelle Medicee
Detail #6

Floor inlay of the de'Medici coat of arms. There are many speculations about the origins of the red balls in the crest. Among the suggested explanations are pills ( e.g. medici is the root word for medicine) or pawnbroker symbols (three gold balls are used today as a symbol outside of some pawnshops). This inlay has five balls. Other de'Medici crests have larger numbers. The three lillies in the blue ball at the head of the crest are the symbol of Florence.