This Asclepius wand, often confused with the Caduceus wand of Hermes, is the true symbol of the medical profession. It dates to antiquity, and was a symbol of the Greek God of healing, Aesculapius. An explanation often given on the origin of the emblem is that the serpent-twined staff originated with an early form advertisement for parasite removal, but this is unlikely, as the snake was the symbol of a number of deities associated with healing. The symbol of a serpent entwined staff also appears in the biblical book of Exodus, wherein Moses is instructed to erect a brass pole with a serpent; whoever looked upon it was healed.
Asclepius with his wand
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