Caduceus

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Modern depiction of the caduceus as the symbol of commerce

Hermes Ingenui^[1] carrying a winged kerykeion upright in his left hand, Roman copy reflecting an unknown Greek original of the 5th century BCE. (Museo Pio-Clementino, Rome).

The caduceus (☤; pron.: /kəˈdjuːsiːəs/ or /kəˈdjuːʃəs/; from Greek κηρύκειον kērukeion "herald's staff"^[2] ) is the staff carried by Hermes in Greek mythology. The same staff was also borne by heralds in general, for example by Iris, the messenger of Hera. It is a short staff entwined by two serpents, sometimes surmounted by wings. In Roman iconography it was often depicted being carried in the left hand of Mercury, the messenger of the gods, guide of the dead and protector of merchants, shepherds, gamblers, liars, and thieves.

As a symbolic object it represents Hermes (or the Roman Mercury), and by extension trades, occupations or undertakings associated with the god. In later Antiquity the caduceus provided the basis for the astrological symbol representing the planet Mercury. Thus, through its use in astrology and alchemy, it has come to denote the elemental metal of the same name.

By extension of its association with Mercury and Hermes, the caduceus is also a recognized symbol of commerce and negotiation, two realms in which balanced exchange and reciprocity are recognized as ideals. This association is ancient, and consistent from the Classical period to modern times. The caduceus is also used as a symbol representing printing, again by extension of the attributes of Mercury (in this case associated with writing and eloquence).

The caduceus is often mistakenly used as a symbol of medicine and medical practice (especially in North America), due to historical confusion with the traditional medical symbol, the rod of Asclepius. The Rod of Asclepius has only a single snake and no wings, so is similar in form to the caduceus with its two snakes and often with wings.

Kings

The elders of Israel gathered together, and came to Samuel, and said to him, "behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways. Make us a king to judge us like all the nations."

The thing displeased Samuel, and he prayed to the Lord. The Lord said unto Samuel, "hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee, for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. Show them the manner of kings."

And Samuel told the words of the Lord unto the people. He said, "this will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you. He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots. He will appoint captains over thousands, and captains over fifties, and will set them to plow his ground and reap his harvest, to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots."

"He will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks and bakers. He will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. He will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give them to his officers and appointees."

"He will take your servants and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your oxen, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your sheep, and you shall be his servants. You shall cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen, and the Lord will hear you not."