Rod of Asclepius


The ‘correct’ symbol of medicine, which is a knarled wooden staff with a single encircling snake held in the accompanying image by Asclepius who stands frowning centre-stage. A widely used—and incorrect—alternative symbol for medicine is the Caduceus a magic wand with two snakes, held by the Roman god Mercury, also known as Hermes in Greek mythology, to the far left in the image