Caduceus
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The <b>caduceus</b> (☤; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English" title="Help:IPA for English" >/</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English" >k</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English" >ə</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English" >ˈ</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English" >d</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English" >uː</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English" >s</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English" >iː</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English" >ə</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English" >s</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English" title="Help:IPA for English" >/</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English" title="Help:IPA for English" >/</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English" >k</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English" >ə</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English" >ˈ</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English" >dj</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English" >uː</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English" >ʃ</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English" >ə</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English" >s</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English" title="Help:IPA for English" >/</a>; from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek" title="Ancient Greek" >Greek</a> κηρύκειον <i>kērukeion</i> "herald's staff"<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus#cite_note-2" >[2]</a></sup> ) is the staff carried by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermes" title="Hermes" >Hermes</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_mythology" title="Greek mythology" >Greek mythology</a>. The same staff was also borne by heralds in general, for example by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris(mythology)" title="Iris (mythology)" >Iris</a>, the messenger of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hera" title="Hera" >Hera</a>. It is a short staff entwined by two <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpent(mythology)" title="Serpent (mythology)" class="mw-redirect" >serpents</a>, sometimes surmounted by wings. In Roman iconography, it was often depicted being carried in the left hand of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(mythology)" title="Mercury (mythology)" >Mercury</a>, the messenger of the gods, guide of the dead and protector of merchants, shepherds, gamblers, liars, and thieves.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus#cite_note-3" >[3]</a></sup>
As a symbolic object, it represents Hermes (or the Roman Mercury), and by extension trades, occupations, or undertakings associated with the god. In late r<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_antiquity" title="Classical antiquity" >Antiquity</a>, the caduceus provided the basis for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrological_symbols" title="Astrological symbols" >astrological symbol</a> representing the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury(planet)" title="Mercury (planet)" >planet Mercury</a>. Thus, through its use in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrology" title="Astrology" >astrology</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemy" title="Alchemy" >alchemy</a>, it has come to denote the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury(element)" title="Mercury (element)" >elemental metal</a> of the same name. It is said the wand would wake the sleeping and send the awake to sleep. If applied to the dying, their death was gentle; if applied to the dead, they returned to life.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus#cite_note-4" >[4]</a></sup>
By extension of its association with Mercury and Hermes, the caduceus is also a recognized symbol of commerce and negotiation, two realms in which balanced exchange and reciprocity are recognized as ideals.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus#cite_note-5" >[5]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus#cite_note-6" >[6]</a></sup> This association is ancient, and consistent from the Classical period to modern times.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus#cite_note-7" >[7]</a></sup>The caduceus is also used as a symbol representing printing, again by extension of the attributes of Mercury (in this case associated with writing and eloquence).
The caduceus is often used incorrectly <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus_as_a_symbol_of_medicine" title="Caduceus as a symbol of medicine" >as a symbol of healthcare organizations and medical practice</a> (especially in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America" title="North America" >North America</a>), due to confusion with the traditional medical symbol, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_of_Asclepius" title="Rod of Asclepius" >rod of Asclepius</a>, which has only one snake and is never depicted with wings.</p>