two serpents

Medical emergency symbol on the side of an ambulance, featuring a caduceus with wings and two snakes

Caduceus: Meaning, Symbolism, and History

Orin Vale

The caduceus is an ancient symbol of Hermes and Mercury, shown as a staff entwined by two serpents and often topped with wings. Though now widely associated with medicine, its history is rooted in heraldry, commerce, diplomacy, and myth, raising questions about how its meaning shifted over time.