What is the history behind the medical snake and staff?

Answer by  joji26 (214)

The caduceus has its origins in the old testament. During the Exodus, people were dying from snake bites. God told Moses to make a staff with a snake on it. When a person who had been bitten looked at the snake on the staff, they were healed.

Answer by  bevin (13)

The medical sign consists of a rod and a snakes curling around it. It was the symbol of the greek god of medicine, Asklepios. He was mainly known for his kind treatment of mentally ill patients. Snake is present because it was considered to have healing power during those days.

Answer by  Lenore (237)

The snake-wrapped staff was the symbol of the Greek god of healing, Aesculepius. Snakes, the symbol of the unconscious to the ancients, roamed his temples freely. Sick people would sleep there, believing that the god would come to them in their dreams and give them a diagnosis or heal them.

Answer by  Sakkano (129)

The object in question is called a Rod of Asclepius. Sometimes it is confused with the Caduceus. It was the symbol of the Greek god Asclepius, the god of healing.