If the snake represents EVIL, why does it appear on the Medical Cadeus?

Question

In addition,why are there 2 snakes on the medical cadeus & only one on the Mental Health cadeus?

Answer 1

Representations of snakes varies from mythology to mythology.
Take for example, it was the snake who was responsible for Adam's apple
In the Hinduism, Lord Shiva has a snake surrounding him at his neck and in India, snake is revered!

Answer 2

I suspect that you are getting your symbolism from the Garden Of Eden story? I believe there wasn't ANY symbolism intended there, as the text of Gensis clearly states that THE SERPENT (not snake) was the most subtle of the creatures there. I point out that it was not a snake, because the SERPENT apparently was 'upright' or had legs, otherwise how did curse the serpent to a existence of crawling on it's belly if it wasn't crawling on its belly to begin with. (?)

Nonetheless, the symbol of the snake has several meanings--depending upon the culture and context of it's use.

Moses lifted a snake up on his staff and told the Israelites that if they looked upon it that they would be healed, and I believe that this is where the medical establishment got their symbolism from (not sure).

I believe it is/was the christians who came along and assigned the meaning of "evil" to the symbol of the snake.

In other cultures they are considered to be a GREAT source of healing and other powers--including wisdom--but usually wisdom is mentioned in relationship to a "serpent"--even the bible speaks of being "wise as a serpent but harmless as a dove".

And this is a GREAT clue, which should lead you to ask many questions.

Meaning, if it were the truth that "the serpent' WAS a symbol of "wisdom" and a snake a symbol of healing, then why would someone want to come along and attempt to alter the original or true symbolism behind the symbol?

And of course I realize why many people get REAL nuts about the "talking serpent/snake thing".

However, there are MANY ancient cultures which speak/tell about a race of "serpents" which PRECEDED the race of man--and actually contended for the right to be the 'chosen form'. One author calls these "The Shining Ones". Which is interesting because the name "Lucifer" comes from the Roman word "PHOSPHOROUS", and the Hebrew/Greek translations produces "bearer of light" or "being able to bear bring light".

The "ancient wisdom" also indicates that there was once a race of serpents as well.

What intrigues me, is how our earth fossil history shows that there was once (anciently) a great and vast race of "reptiles" which inhabited the earth--and that they somehow "magically" disappeared all at once, and were replaced by 'mammals'.

Sorry, I got carried away with this.

Regards,

Answer 3

The caduceus was a Pagan symbol, not a Christian one. In paganism, snakes don't always symbolize evil. Quite often they symbolize wisdom.

However, there is a Christian/Jewish Bible story about people being saved by a brass snake on a staff, (this is known as a Nehushtan).

Numbers 21:4-9

21.6. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
21.7. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
21.8. And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
21.9. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

This Biblical symbol of a snake on a staff may have helped make the caduceus palatable enough to the Christian world that the Pagan caduceus was retained as a symbol for medicine.

Answer 4

Single serpent on rod - The Rod of Asclepius has Greek and biblical origins in healing. In the bible, we find Moses healing Israelites from snake bites with the serpent on a rod (Numbers 21:4-9 KJV). The significance of this passage was not only the physical healing that took place upon viewing the serpent on the rod; it was the act of looking up to God that healed the Israelites' spiritual disobedience. This foreshadows the coming of Jesus not only as a healer, but as a Savior for all who have faith in Him:

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." -- John 3:14-15 KJV

The Rod of Asclepius is the correct symbol used by the medical profession.

Dual serpent on rod - The caduceus has Greek origins with an association to alchemy. Its usage was limited to commerical organizations until it was adopted US Army Medical Department in 1902. This started the confusion on proper usage, as opposed to the Rod of Asclepius for medical professions.

The medical field uses the Rod of Asclepius.

Answer 5

the snake doesn't represent all evil, it represents deception

the snake in terms of medical signs refers to the time when the children of Israel were plagues by snakes and God said "look upon this bronze snake and ye shall be healed" and so, they were healed

dunno singularity vs plurality

Answer 6

Those symbols are Greek if I am not mistaken. And other than the snake was cursed to go on it's belly I am not away that it is the symbol of evil... Jim

Answer 7

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=9511

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus

Basically, the medical symbol is susposed to be a single snake on a pole, but the "two snakes" symbol was adopted instead.

It comes from ancient Greece...a symbol of one of their gods.

Snakes don't always represent evil, btw.

Answer 8

i has to do with the old testament fable about snakes terrorizing a camp during the 40 year desert trek. moses frightened them away with his staff...
obviously i don't remember the fairy tale completely.
maybe someone else can give more details.

Answer 9

Science is evil dear, including medecine. Just trust the fundies and forget about the rest.

Answer 10

the caduceus is a greek emblem, and in those terms the snake represents ancient wisdom.