The Healing Symbol
Throughout history, the caduceus has been mistaken for the Rod of Asclepius due to their similar appearance, but represent different things. “In symbolic significance, each symbol represents its ancient Greek deity and that deity’s attributes,” said Stanley Blair, an associate professor of English.
“Hermes is best known as the messenger god, but he was also the god of thievery and moneymaking, while Asclepius was the god of medicine. Both gods were worshiped in ancient Greece and Rome,” Blair continued.
“In appearance, the caduceus consists of a staff with two intertwining snakes, topped usually by a sphere and a pair of wings. In earlier artistic representations of Hermes, often the wings are absent from his staff because they are depicted instead as being on his cap or ankles. The Rod of Asclepius consists of a rod with one intertwined snake.”
It was stated that the in the wilderness, the Israelites who were bitten by poisonous snakes had to look upon the brass snake on a staff to heal. Yet, later in the New Testament, you hear Yeshua stating ” And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: …”
What is the correlation?