Meet Asclepius, son of Apollo. He was the Greek God of healing, and his "single serpent staff" represented the field of medicine, 2,000 years ago, and was the true and authentic symbol of Medicine.
You can often find him with his children, Hygieia (goddess of hygiene), and Panacea (goddess of universal remedy).
A well-known healing temple (or asclepeion) was located on the island of Kos, where Hippocrates, the "father of medicine", most likely began his career.
It may have roots in an earlier era, when Moses was commanded to make the "Brazen Serpent" to protect the Israelites from death. As God sent "fiery serpents" into the camp, which killed many Israelites who rebelled against Moses and God.
Num 21:4-9
When researching this strange "Fiery serpents" most theories center around a PARASITE called, Dracunculiasis, which have been found in 3,000 year-old Egyptian mummies. The worm forms a fluid-filled blister and begins to cause SEVERE burning pain.
In short, THIS is the Rod of Asclepius.
This is not.
It is the Rod of Caduceus, who is Hermes in Greece, and Mercury in Rome.
He is the god of financial gain, commerce, divination, trickery, and thieves, who serves as the guide of souls to the underworld.
Whoopsie Daisy...
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