Caduceus

The Caduceus or Caduceus (Latin caduceus; Greek κηρύκειον kerykeion of κῆρυξ Keryx " herald ", also ῥάβδος rhabdos " bar " ) is a rod with two wings, which is entwined by two snakes facing each other with heads. In ancient times, was the caduceus emblem of the Heralds, the signal the immunity of these bearer military commands or secret messages and should secure their safe return. In later times, was the herald's staff, as a caduceus, symbol of commerce, even in heraldry (→ caduceus ). The most famous bar support was the Greek god Hermes, who was called by the Romans Mercurius (Mercury).

The design is interpreted in different ways: on the one hand as a connection of opposing forces ( this interpretation later served especially the alchemists ), on the other hand as a symbol of fertility, the rod was viewed as a phallic symbol, above the mate two snakes. Except Hermes / Mercury also the Greek messenger of the gods Iris and the Roman goddess of fortune Felicitas be represented with a caduceus.

In modern times, the Caduceus is usually a symbol of economy and trade. The Administrative Services German armies, police forces and shipping companies used partly the caduceus as an additional emblem on their rank insignia; as well as the customs administration of the GDR. In the United States it is sometimes used as a symbol of medical facilities and thereby possibly confused with the Rod of Asclepius.

The Unicode symbol of Hermes rod is U 2624 ☤ CADUCEUS.

Genesis

In Greek mythology, Hermes was born on the Kyllenegebirge in Arcadia as the son of Zeus and a nymph. On the very day of his birth he stole his brother Apollo 50 cattle that that had to stay in the order of King Admetus in Thessaly. From raging Apollo dragged before the Olympus, the amused Zeus ordered him to return the stolen cattle. Instead beguiled Hermes the Apollo with the game of his own invention Lyra and persuaded him to take the cattle to take this lyre. On top of that he received from Apollo also a golden wand ( = rhabdos chryseie ) who sends the sleep, even the eternal sleep, and everything he touches, can turn to gold. Its main attribute is in addition to the winged shoes and the wide-brimmed, shaded by traveling hat ( the find later with wing ) of the caduceus ( Greek Doric κηρúκειον = kerykeion, Homer also: kerykeion skeptron ). In early times this bar to have been rather represented as tail consisting of an oil or laurel branch with two knotted lace,

In vase paintings and coins are mostly found a thin rod ( rod ) with a circle at the end and set about half circle (or half moon). The same form is to be found in Phoenicians and Hittites and may be a combination of sun and crescent moon. In India, the symbol of the sun and crescent is said to have existed in even earlier times as " Trisula ". In alchemy, and astrology is the Caduceus up today for " Mercurius " (mercury) and the planet Mercury. One of the earliest depictions, where you'll find two snake heads at the Caduceus, is a bronze caduceus from the 5th century BC in the National Museum of Palermo. Here is the caduceus essentially of a circle with a half circle on the staff, except that the ends of the semicircle are shown as snakeheads. The earliest appearance of wings on the rod of Hermes is found at a statue from the 1st century AD regularly be found wings and snakes on the Caduceus only since the 15th or 16th century.

Through contacts between Greek and Egyptian culture, at least since the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great developed a combination of the Greek god Hermes with the Egyptian god Thoth. Often depicted as a baboon or ibis, Thoth was regarded as the inventor of the era, the writing and the sciences, especially mathematics and astronomy, and was the god of laws, wisdom, magic, prophecy, and the sacred books. He served as clerk and secretary of the gods and recorded the judgment, when the souls of the dead were weighed into the underworld against the feather of Maat truth. Like Hermes, he was considered as a transmitter of decisions of the gods. The Caduceus of Hermes had diverse meaning among the Greeks. Originally a magic wand, he was later regarded mainly as a symbol of the Herald and as a peace symbol. According to one legend Hermes once found two snakes in a violent struggle intertwined. With an olive branch, he separated the combatants, and in gratitude for they embraced the bar peacefully and turned into love each other. Hermes with its symbol was henceforth regarded as a peacemaker. This is the most positive meaning which has become the Caduceus. Among the Romans it was next to the peace sign as a symbol for trade and transport. In Rome, merchants celebrated on May 15, a celebration in his honor. They sprinkled with water "so to cleanse itself of the perjury, which they had committed in their trade and change until then ."

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