What is caduceus?

Caduceus is from Greek to mean "herald's staff". The staff was carried by Hermes Trismegistus in Greco-Egyptian mythology and Hermes in Greek mythology. The same staff was also carried by Iris, the messenger of Hera.

Caduceus as the Rod of Hermes is a winged staff with two snakes wrapped around it. It was an ancient astrological symbol of commerce and is today used to symbolize the practice and profession of medicine.

As a symbol for medicine, caduceus is often used interchangeably with the Rod of Asclepius (single snake, no wings), although many people believe that the Rod of Asclepius is used strictly to symbolize the practice commerce.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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12 Comments

Margaret O'Neill

danny powell, Of course it was, if you know beforehand what the answer was... Why say something like this? Not everyone knows everything... and a wise man knows this!

Bob Bracegirdle

Not easy!

Melkon Marashlian

The correct reason is found in the Bible - the book of Numbers 21:5-9. Read it and all of you will learn why.

James Wyble

The true origin of the staff and snakes come from the Bible at Number 21:5-9. The nation of Israel were murmuring against God and God caused poisonous snakes to come up and bite the complainers, several died. The people begged Moses to intercede and ask God to forgive them. God told Moses to fabricate a copper serpent and to hang it upon his staff, and anyone bitten by a snake only had to look upon this symbol and would be healed from the snake bites. And now you know the rest of the story.