Ovid's Metamorphoses

The concept of man transforming into something of the natural world can be traced back to the pagan religion of the Greeks and Romans. Certain stories are made famous by Ovid's Metamorphoses, a collection of tales from Roman mythology where various figures undergo transformations into various plants and animals. The tales of Narcissus and Daphne are two of the most well known stories of botanical transformation. Narcissus, after falling in love with his reflection, dies at the edge of a spring and his body turned into flowers that were then named after him. The god Apollo was shot by Cupid's arrow and fell in love with the nymph Daphne. However she rejected his advances, causing him to chase her. She called out to her father for help and he turned her into a laurel tree for protection. It is interesting to note how both Apollo and Lisabetta appropriated their lovers' plant into their daily lives. The laurel tree became associated with the god and was prevalent in Greek culture as a signifier of great achievement. Lisabetta used the pot of basil as a stand in for her lover and uses it to mourn.

Although Lorenzo was not transformed into a basil plant by a divine powers, the act of Lisabetta planting his head in the pot of basil effectively turns him into the basil plant itself which resembles "the Ovidian passage from one form of life to another" (Marchus, 388). As the flesh decomposes, the nutrients sustain the plant, causing it to grow. The potted basil also becomes a representation of Lorenzo himself, as Lisabetta projects her grief onto it and takes care of it. While Lorenzo's transformation is not magical, the metaphorical shift in his physical being harkens back to the Roman mythological tradition.

Etymology

The word for basil originates from the Greek word βασιλικὸν meaning "royal." Translated into Latin it is basilica, which also became confounded with the word basilicus as the plant was thought to have been an antidote to venom (OED). The words has always been associated with the plant throughout history. The connection with royalty and kingship shows the importance that basil had within the Greek culture and in the Mediterranean.