Caduceus Pharmacy Symbol

The Caduceus (from the Greek, meaning herald's wand) is the name given to the symbol of a staff entwined by two snakes to form a double helix. The staff is depicted with wings, and is said to have belonged to Iris, the messenger of Hera, or to Hermes (Mercury), the messenger of the gods.

In the West, the caduceus has been adopted as a symbol of medicine since the 19th century (particularly in North America), most likely due to its similarity to the serpent of Epidaurus on the staff of Aesculapius. It is usually considered to be less suitable for pharmacy than the one snake motif, and is more popular for use as a general medical symbol.