Staff of Aesculapius - One Snake or Two?
Australasian College of Independent Medical Evaluators
Your journey to Independent Medical Evaluation education excellence.
The Caduceus vs. Staff of Aesculapius - One Snake or Two?
There is much confusion of the true symbol of medicine. The single staff with one snake-entwined is the true symbol of medicine.
Aesculapius was the god of medicine and was the son of Apollo, the god of healing. The Staff of Aesculapius is a rough-hewn branch representing plants and growth entwined by a single snake. Aesculapius was known as the god of medicine.
Hermes (Mercury) was the messenger of the gods and known for carrying a staff known as the Caduceus. The caduceus included two snakes topped off with a set of wings. The Caduceus is from the Greek root meaning “herald’s wand” and was a badge of diplomatic ambassadors associated with commerce, eloquence, alchemy, thievery, and lying.
The Staff of Aesculapius has represented medicine since 800 BCE, and most knowledgeable medical authorities support its use as the symbol of medicine.
The Australian Medical Association, the?New England Journal of Medicine, , and the World Health Organization use the Staff of Aesculapius.
The Staff of Aesculapius is the only true symbol of medicine.
The ACIME crest symbolises:
The Balanced Scales: Strongly associated with the legal system and principles of equity and fairness, scales have long been used as a symbol of fairness, balance and an objective outlook.?
The Scroll: The scroll is a famous symbol closely associated with law and justice, signifying knowledge, learning, the extent of life and passing of time. It also represents continued learning as life unfolds and education as a responsibility of the society and everyone in it.
The diagonal lines are indicative of a road, line markings leading you on your journey of discovery.