Caduceus
conceptThe staff of Hermes entwined by two serpents and topped with wings, originally a herald's wand symbolising negotiation and commerce, later confused with the rod of Asclepius.
The Myth
The caduceus belonged to Hermes, messenger of the gods and patron of travellers, merchants, and thieves. According to one tradition, Hermes received the staff from Apollo in exchange for the lyre he had invented from a tortoise shell. When Hermes encountered two serpents fighting, he thrust his staff between them, and they coiled around it in peace. Tiresias similarly separated mating serpents with his staff, though his tale had different consequences. The caduceus served as the badge of heralds and ambassadors throughout Greece, granting safe passage even in wartime. Iris, the other divine messenger, carried a similar staff. The symbol should not be confused with the Rod of Asclepius, which bears only a single serpent and is the true symbol of medicine.
Symbols
Fun Fact
The US Army Medical Corps accidentally adopted the caduceus (Hermes' commerce staff) instead of the Rod of Asclepius (the actual medical symbol) in 1902, and the mistake stuck. Most American hospitals now use the wrong symbol — two snakes instead of one — while European medical institutions correctly use Asclepius's single serpent. It's history's most influential typo.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
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Iris
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