The physician’s herald or symbol.
Symbol often used to represent the medical profession consisting of two serpents entwined around a staff, topped by two wings.
In mythology, the wand or staff that belonged to Apollo and was given to Hermes, or Mercury. It consists of two serpents entwined around a staff, surmounted by two wings, and is used as the medical insignia of certain groups such as the U.S. Army Medical Corps. Although the caduceus is sometimes used to symbolize the medical profession, the staff of Aesculapius is considered the more appropriate symbol.
The time-honored and universally recognized emblem of medicine, comprised of Mercury’s winged staff with two entwined serpents.
The staff of Mercury, symbolizing the medical profession.