The Serpent Charmer
In Greek mythology, the caduceus is the staff carried by Hermes, the messenger god, symbolizing trade and guidance — not healing, as often mistaken. It is frequently confused with the Rod of Asclepius, the true symbol of medicine and healing.
For the Greeks, the shedding of a snake’s skin represented bodily and spiritual renewal, while the snake itself reflected the dual nature of a physician dealing with both life and death.
Because of this, snakes were highly respected and featured prominently in ancient mystery cults.
It is said that Olympias, the mother of Alexander the Great, kept snakes as pets, and that Zeus once seduced her in the form of a serpent.
(By Paul Désiré Trouillebert, 1829–1900)