The medal of the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute represents the Genius of Medicine holding an open book in her lap, collecting the water pouring out from a rock in order to quench a sick girl's thirst.
The inscription reads:
Inventas vitam juvat excoluisse per artes
loosely translated "And they who bettered life on earth by their
newly found mastery."
(Word for word: inventions enhance life which is beautified
through art.)
The words are taken from Vergilius Aeneid, the 6th song, verse
663;
Lo, God-loved poets, men who spake things worthy Phoebus'
heart;
and they who bettered life on earth by new-found mastery
The name of the laureate is engraved on the plate below the
figures, and the text "REG. UNIVERSITAS MED. CHIR. CAROL." stands
for the Karolinska Institute.
The Nobel Medal for Physiology or Medicine was designed by
Erik Lindberg.
More on the Nobel Medals and the Medal for the Prize in Economic Sciences:
Physics and Chemistry
Physiology or Medicine
Literature
Peace
Economic Sciences
Copyright © The Nobel Foundation 2006
We are currently working on the web site. Please report errors or problems.
