The symbol of the Caduceus [pronounced Kuh-doo-shiss or Kuh-doo-see-us] and as used by the Medical and Allied professions, is a very ancient and universal symbol. The Caduceus can found the world over and different stylisations of it can be found in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, India Europe and even Mesoamerica. Many of us would know the Caduceus as the popular winged staff with two entwined snakes or serpents as held by the Greek god Hermes.
We are told that the staff of Hermes was often carried by Greek messengers and ambassadors and later became a Roman symbol for truce, neutrality, and non-combatant status. The United States Army Medical Corp have been using the Caduceus as an emblem since 1902, and it has since become a favourite with various commercial trade organisations.

The Rod of Aesculapius

However, most people are not aware that the staff symbol first used by the Medical Profession in the 18th century is often a simple, roughly-hewn knotted, tree branch or wooden staff with one serpent entwined. Of course there are variations on this theme. In some symbols or emblems, the staff is lit at the top like a torch – symbolising the divine Light of wisdom.
The solitary snake staff as the one shown left, is often and wrongly named the ‘Caduceus.’ This staff was originally the symbol of Aesculapius, (right) the mythical Greek physician and later, the god of medicine and healing. The staff which he is often shown leaning on (and the one used in the Medical Profession) is known as the Rod of Aesculapius. Aesculapius was said to be the son of the Greek god Apollo and was taught the healing arts by the Centaur Chirion.
Now what most of us do not know, is that this particular staff really makes a correspondence with the reality of the healing properties of the snake, as associated with the practical, ‘first level’ meaning of the Grail and the Elixir of Life.
This will be revealed for the first time in our book The Serpent Grail.
The serpent or snake therefore symbolised wisdom and immortality.