Minneapolis Institute of Art

Caduceus

Roman EmpireLinkedCulture matchlcp-4c2f8dd29711

Date

2nd century

Medium

Bronze

Culture

Roman

Department

European Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Object ID

197

A winged rod with two snakes twined around it is an ancient emblem of messengers. Originating in Middle Eastern cultures such as Babylonia (in present-day Iraq), it became an attribute of Hermes, the Greek god of commerce and communication, and of Hermes’ Roman counterpart, Mercury. In Roman myth, Mercury threw his staff at two snakes fighting on the ground, which then ceased fighting and became affixed to the staff. The caduceus is often mistaken for the staff of Asclepius, the ancient Greek god of medicine and healing. Asclepius’ staff has a single twining snake and lacks wings. Although the caduceus has been used internationally as a symbol of the medical profession, only the staff of Asclepius is technically correct.

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