The Staff of Asklepios
Around the world, you will see one symbol used to signify medicine, a rod/staff with snake winding around it, otherwise known as The Staff of Asklepios.
Son of Apollo, Asklepios is the Greek God for medicine and healing. It is said that his knowledge in medicine was so great he could bring life back to the dead. In doing this he angered Zeus who destroyed him with a thunderbolt in order to restore the natural order. His symbol includes a snake due to them being a symbol of renewal and rebirth and were often used in healing rituals. Asklepios wasn’t the only god associated with healing, his daughters were too; Hygieia for good health, Laso for cure and remedy, and Panakeia for cures and panaceas.
Over centuries the Hippocratic Oath has been rewritten to suit various cultures; the original had new physicians to swear upon the gods and goddesses of Apollo, Asklepios, Hygieia and Panacea.
Here in North America another symbol may be commonly seen or misinterpreted to mean medicine, two snakes winding around a winged staff. This symbol is known as Caduceus, or the symbol of Hermes. The first appearance of the misinterpretation dates back to the 1850s when it was used for the U.S. Army hospital stewards. By 1902 the U.S. Army medical officers had the symbol on their uniforms. Many American organizations over time have reverted back to the original symbol of medicine others including the U.S. Public Health Service, have kept Caduceus as theirs.
Today it is common for the majority of professional organizations associated with medicine to use The Staff of Asklepios as their symbol, whereas commercial organizations will sometimes use Caduceus since they will choose symbols that they believe are most recognizable to the general public.
In our collection we have objects that depict each symbol. A business card holder (2016.145.1) which depicts the Caduceus symbol and a Canadian Medical Corp Cap Badge featuring the Asklepios symbol (1974.80.2)
[KLMA 2016.145.1]
[KLMA 1974.80.2]
Text by Caitlan Madden