BPHgravity Posted May 14, 2003 Share Posted May 14, 2003 Does anyone know the origin of the staff with a snake wrapped around it that is used as a medical symbol on ambulances and hospitals? Most of the time there is a blue cross behind it as well? :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glider Posted May 15, 2003 Share Posted May 15, 2003 It is called the Caduceus and it is the staff of Hermes (in Greek mythology) or Apollo (in Roman mythology) . For detailed infomation, see here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atinymonkey Posted May 15, 2003 Share Posted May 15, 2003 Well, I was in Kos recently and because it was raining I decided to take the tours that showed the birthplace of Hippocrates and the founding of the first hospitals. The local guide had a slighty different view as to who the serpent and staff was used, which was "we use the snake and stick because we have snakes on the island". I guess that they also had sticks and thats all they had on the island. Presumably Hippocrates used the old fashioned method of hittin people with a stick with a snake wrapped about it. I highly recommed the tour. They also told me that the Knights of St John built the templar Castles to "defend against pirates", and not as I previously thought to defend against the Turks that were trying to kill them all. You live and you learn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jason Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 http://www.thehemperor.net/nontesters/thehemperor/ some say it is the tree in the garden of eden with the snake offering drugs as the keys to the secrets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badchad Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 http://drblayney.com/Asclepius.html#worm That was the explanation I was taught in school. Basically, in ancient time the Dracunculus medinensis, which is some type of worm (a parasite I believe), invaded the body. To get it out, a physician would cut into the patients skin, and remove the worm by wrapping it around a stick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadianpoet Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 The Sumerians had a very similar iconic emblem with two entwined snakes and a staff. Some say it signifies the double helix of DNA, but it bears a startling resemblance to our modern day Caduceus! The Sumerians are a civilisation older than the Greeks and whom originated in modern day Iraq. They are quite a few civilisations from Mesopotamia and Mesoamerica that use the snake as a depiction of healing or medicines in some form. It would be very interesting to find its true origin! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreamLord Posted September 2, 2004 Share Posted September 2, 2004 It is called the Caduceus and it is the staff of Hermes (in Greek mythology) or Apollo (in Roman mythology) . For detailed infomation, see here Hermes was known as Mercury in Roman mythology. Apollo had the same name for both. Hermes and Mercury used the Caduceus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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