Acacia

Caduceus of Hermes

The caduceus of Hermes (in Greek old, κηρύκειον / kêrúkeion , “sceptre of the Herald” or ῥάϐδος / rhábdos , “stick”) is composed of a surmounted stick of two wings, around whose two snakes are rolled up which face its top.

Apollon exchanged with Hermes his gold rod against a Lyre. According to Hygin, when Hermes wanted to separate two snakes in fight, those were rolled up around the rod.

This caduceus is the sceptre carried by the Héraut S, which makes their person inviolable. In the beginning, it is simply in olive-tree, still with its branches. Thereafter, the branches are rolled up around the stick to appear of the snakes.

There remains today still a symbol of the Commerce like eloquence (he is reproduced in particular on the platform of the National Assembly).

Caduceus of Asclépios

The caduceus of Asclépios (Esculape) is a stick runs the length whose a Serpent is rolled up; later, this stick was surmounted mirror of prudence. In the beginning, in Greek mythology, it is the attribute of the Apollon god who offers it to Asclépios (his/her son and god of the Médecine).

Medical symbol in France

In France, the caduceus of medicine is composed of a surmounted stick of the mirror of the prudence, around whose a single snake is rolled up (drawn in red on white zone).

In the caduceus of the Pharmacy, the stick is surmounted cut of Hygie (girl of Asclépios and goddess of health), in which the snake spits its venom (the venom of snake is used with the preparation as remedies). The caduceus is a collective mark which was deposited by the Ordre of the pharmacists in 1968.

The caduceus of Asclépios was taken again like symbol by several medical and paramedical professions.

Caduceus in the literature

In Lives of the large captains - Hannibal of Cornélius Népos: “Hannibal, to indicate clearly to his where Eumène was, sends a messenger in a wherry with the caduceus. ” The caduceus was a symbol of peace but it is also an allusion to the poisonous snakes used to frighten Pergaméniens.
In the delivers I Métamorphoses of Ovide: “Mercury puts at its feet wings, in its powerful hand the caduceus which gives birth to the sleep, and on its head a helmet. It makes use of this caduceus, like a shepherd of its crook, to lead a herd of goats”
In the life of Thésée of Plutarque: “It herald accepted the crowns; but, instead of putting them on its head, it surrounded its caduceus of it. ”

In 1631, in Clitandre of Pierre Corneille, Pymante known as: “Mercury with its caduceus makes some to Me after my death the forced opening; ”
In 1652, in the delivers IV Virgile disguised of Paul Scarron: “God carry-caduceus” indicates Mercure, and before:
: “And then it took its caduceus:
: It is an interlaced rod
: Of a couple of beautiful snakes,
: Twisted, and not crawling. ”
In the Elephant and the Monkey of Jupiter in the Fables (1668-1694) of Jean of the Fountain, the monkey of Jupiter carries a caduceus.
In Song of the arena (1819-1827) in Odes and Ballades of Victor Hugo:
: “A dazzling chlamyde
: De Sydon, which, rich and powerful,
: Joint the caduceus with the three-pronged fork. ”
In 1829, in the Anthem with Christ of the poetic Harmonies and nuns of Alphonse of Lamartine: “Like lying gods missing with your voice, Of these carriers of the lightning or cheap caduceus,”
In the House of shepherd I chapter of the Intended (1864) of Alfred de Vigny: “Blessed either the Trade with the bold caduceus…”

Others

The caduceus is also present in the standard Unicode at the U+2624 point (“☤”).

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