Caduceus charms are a fashionable gift for graduating physicians, nurses and veterinary students but are you aware of how this emblem came to be used by medical workers? The Rod of Asclepius is a much more suitable logo for medical personnel and organisations, so why is the caduceus used even though, unlike the Rod, it has no medical meaning? In reality, quite the contrary as the emblem is associated with Hermes, god of the market place and travel and of the craftiness of liars, and who is in general linked to waywardness and deception. He was also the guide of souls to the underworld, so the use of his symbol for medicine is particularly unfortunate.

The Rod of Asclepius

rod-of-asclepiusThe more correct logo is the Rod of Asclepius which is a rod intertwined by a snake. Asclepius is the god of medicine in the Greek myths and his daughters were Hygieia, Aglea, Aceso, Laso, Meditrina, and Panacea who symbolize cleanliness, healing and medicine. Panacea means literally ‘all healing’ and is a recognizable word in present day English. Asclepius was the son of Apollo and Coronis and was looked after by centaur called Chiron, when his mother was executed for betrayal. It was Chiron who taught Asclepius medicine.

In Ancient Greece, around 300 BC the cult of Asclepius was prevalent and his healing temples were called Asclepieia. Snakes were frequently used in the healing rituals and non venomous serpents crawled freely around the temples. In the beginning the Oath of Hippocrates started with the words ‘I swear by Apollo the Physician and by Asclepius and by Hygieia and Panacea and by all the gods …”
medical caduceus

The Caduceus

The caduceus is typically seen as a messenger’s staff with a pair of intertwined serpents and often has wings. Originally the rod was borne by Iris who was the envoy of Hera. Only in later myths was it borne by Hermes. It may perhaps be the source of the astrological representation for Mercury, who was the Roman counterpart of the Greek Hermes. It is frequently used as a representation for medicine especially in North America. Why is there misunderstanding between the Rod of Asclepius, a suitable sign for medicine and the caduceus which is unsuitable, connected as it is with Hermes, patron of thieves and tricksters and escort of the departed to the afterlife?

History of The Use of the Caduceus by Medical Workers

It appears that it was used incorrectly as a substitute for the Rod of Asclepius in the 19th century. It was first used as a medical image in the 1850’s in the US on uniforms of military hospital staff and was worn by medical officers from about 1902. The Surgeon General saw the error a few years after this but didn’t replace it. It was used by the Navy Hospital Corps and the Army Medical Dept following the 1st World War. Though the AMA used it for a few years, it was replaced by the proper symbol for medicine, the Rod of Asclepius, in 1912.

The Use of the Caduceus in Jewelry Today

These days caduceus jewelry is trendy, particularly among nurses. Caduceus charms for bracelets are particularly admired and can be purchased in silver, gold or encrusted with diamonds. A medical caduceus is a popular present for graduating students whether nurses, physicians or veterinary students.

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