Caduceus

The caduceus (☤) is an ancient symbol. It looks like a short staff with two serpents wrapped around it, sometimes with wings on top. It comes from Greek mythology, where it belonged to Hermes, the messenger of the gods. Hermes used the caduceus to help make peace, guide travelers, and carry messages. In Roman stories, the same symbol was carried by Mercury, who is like Hermes.

The caduceus has a long history. It might have started in ancient Mesopotamia, where a similar staff was linked to the god Ningishzida. Over time, the symbol came to stand for ideas like trade, communication, and balance. Because of its link to Mercury, the caduceus was also used to represent the planet Mercury in astrology, alchemy, and astronomy.

Today, the caduceus is often used to stand for commerce, negotiation, and printing. Though the Rod of Asclepius — a staff with only one snake — is the more traditional sign for medicine, some healthcare groups use the caduceus. Many medical professionals prefer the Rod of Asclepius because the caduceus is mainly linked to trade and communication, not healing.

Classical antiquity

The Caduceus in classical imagery

Fresco from Pompeii of the punishment of Ixion: in the center is Mercury holding the caduceus

Iris with the caduceus in detail from an Attic [red-figure](/wiki/Red-figure) [pelike](/wiki/Pelike), middle of fifth century BC ([Agrigento](/wiki/Agrigento), Sicily)

Coin from [Sardis](/wiki/Sardis) (Turkey) with caduceus (c. 140-144 CE)

Mythology

The Homeric Hymn to Hermes tells how Hermes received the caduceus from his brother Apollo as a symbol of friendship. The staff’s connection to serpents links Hermes to Asclepius, who was also associated with serpents.

One story says that the god Hermes found two serpents fighting and used his staff to stop them. After that, the staff became a symbol of peace.

Iconography

Ancient pictures of the caduceus sometimes showed the two snakes at the top of the staff, forming a circle. This design helped create the symbol for the planet Mercury used in Greek astrology.

Origin and comparative mythology

Further information: Serpent worship

Hermes hastens bearing his kerukeion, on an Attic lekythos, c. 475 BC, attributed to the Tithonos Painter

The caduceus is an ancient symbol found in many cultures. At first, the word "kerukeion" just meant a herald's staff. Later, it became linked to Hermes, a messenger god in Greek myths. Hermes carried a staff with two snakes wrapped around it.

Similar symbols to the caduceus have been seen in the Ancient Near East. Early seals from Mesopotamia, thousands of years old, show designs that look like the caduceus. In Egypt, snake symbols also appear in old art. The caduceus later showed up on coins in ancient India. It was used by King Ashoka, an important Buddhist ruler.

Early modern use

During the early modern period, the caduceus became a symbol of rhetoric. This happened because it was linked to Mercury's skill in speaking well. Artists used this symbol in their work to show ideas about communication and clear speaking. Some famous pieces include an engraving by Hendrik Goltzius and paintings like La Retorique and Allegory of Rhetoric.

Modern use

The caduceus is used in many ways today. Early printers, like Erhard Ratdolt and Johann Froben, used it as a special mark for their work, often with other symbols like a cornucopia or Pegasus. It also appeared on the Columbian press, a famous printing press from the 1800s.

Part of an 1845 Columbian printing press, showing the caduceus that is part of the machine's elaborate decoration

Today, the caduceus is linked to business and trade. It can be found in dictionaries and on the emblems of customs agencies around the world, such as in Bulgaria, Slovakia, Belarus, and China. Some universities, like the Kyiv National University of Trade and Economics in Ukraine, also use it in their symbols.

Sometimes, the caduceus is mistaken for a symbol of medicine. In the United States, it is often used in place of the Rod of Asclepius, which has just one snake. This mix-up started when the U.S. Army Medical Corps chose the caduceus as their symbol in 1902. Many commercial healthcare companies use the caduceus because it looks more appealing.

Computer coding

The caduceus symbol is found in Unicode at U+2624 ☤ CADUCEUS. There is also a similar symbol at U+269A ⚚ STAFF OF HERMES, an alchemical symbol at U+1F750 🝐 ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL FOR CADUCEUS, and an astrological symbol at U+2BDA ⯚ HYGIEA. These symbols might not show up in all fonts, especially older ones. For more details on how to use the symbol, see Unicode input.

Coats of arms and flags

The caduceus symbol appears on many coats of arms and flags. Examples include the coat of arms of Ecuador, the caduceus on the coat of arms of Jyväskylä, Finland, the coat of arms of Tampere, Finland, and the coat of arms of Lassay-les-Châteaux, France. It is also found on the coat of arms of Saint-Pantaléon, France, the coat of arms of Gmina Nur, Poland, the emblem of the Federal Customs Service of Russia, and the coat of arms of Irbit, Russia. Additional examples include the coat of arms of Bengtsfors Municipality, Sweden, Balta, Ukraine, Berdychiv, Ukraine, and Kharkiv, Ukraine. The caduceus also appears on the emblem of the Volapük language, the customs flag of Belarus, the customs flag of China, the flag of the City of Brisbane, Australia, and the flag of Vancouver Island, Canada.