AnKaren Blumenraderq age 11 of Peoria,

What is the snake on a doctor's insignia?

These snakes ‑ there are two of them ‑ go way back to ancient days when the snake was a symbol of wisdom. The Romans took over the older Greek god Hermes and named him Mercury, In both legends he was a messenger of the gods and goddesses, He was also a guide and conducted the souls of mortals to heaven. The heavenly messenger wore a winged helmet and had two little wings on each heel, no doubt to help him speed from place to place with his messages.

Both Hermes and Mercury carried a wand called the caduceus. This caduceus was a badge of office. It is thought that originally the wand was made of olive wood and garlanded with flowers. Later, it became a carving of two serpents gracefully curled together and topped with a pair of little wings, Do you recognize the caduceus in modern life? It is still a badge of noble office.

The old wand of Hermes and Mercury was adopted as the badge of the physician. It is also the insignia of the U, S. Medical Corpse