What does the symbol mean - the rod of Mercury "Caduceus"? The meaning of the caduceus tattoo: from the rod of Mercury to the idea of ​​space. A staff with two snakes and wings.

CADUCEUS

A staff - a golden staff entwined with two snakes with or without wings - was an attribute of deities in India and Ancient Egypt, Phenicia and Sumer, Greece, Rome and throughout the Mediterranean, Iran and even pre-Columbian America.

This is a symbol so ancient that it is almost impossible to establish when it appeared.

And no matter what deity held it in his hands: Serapis, Asclepius or Hermes, Mercury or Aesculapius, the caduceus always reflected the same thing: the principle of universal movement.
Acted as an attribute of the Greek god Hermes and, by analogy, of the Roman Mercury.
According to one version, the caduceus originally had the shape of an olive branch or twig with several leaves. Then the rod was crowned with a tip in the shape of a ball and a crescent and, finally, took the form of snakes entwining it. According to another version, the snake, as a sign of healing, was originally an integral part of the rod. According to Homer, Hermes received the caduceus from Apollo in exchange for a pipe; another legend says that the caduceus was made especially for Hermes. According to legend, Hermes threw a caduceus at two snakes fighting each other, and as a result they became attached to the rod. Hermes gave the caduceus to his son Nerik, from whom the line of heralds descended.
Hermes, the messenger of the gods, was recognized by the caduceus in Ancient Greece. The image of the messenger of the gods was also associated with ideas about the religions of the Middle East; sometimes it served as an attribute of a figure personifying the World. The caduceus had the ability to put people to sleep and awaken them from sleep, so it often acted as an emblem of dreams. In psychoanalysis, the caduceus is a phallic sign associated with the sublimation of sleep. In a broader interpretation, it is a symbol of magic. According to Hermetic semiotics, the caduceus is the key to the underworld: with its help, Hermes opens the gates of the underworld and introduces the souls of the dead there.

Since Hermes acted as the mentor of Eros, the caduceus also symbolized such teacher qualities as eloquence and prudence, or generally denoted pedagogy.
There is an opinion that a rod or rod is the axis of the world (an option is the world tree), down and up which, between Heaven and Earth, the intermediary gods move. Therefore, all messengers wore the Caduceus as a sign of peace and protection, and it was their main attribute. Two snakes with their heads turned upward symbolize in this case evolution and at the same time two principles of the universe (like yang and ying in Taoism) or are interpreted as two mutually dependent processes of the evolutionary development of material forms and souls that control material forms.
The symmetrical arrangement of snakes and wings serves as proof of the balance of opposing forces and the harmonious development of both the lower, bodily, and higher, spiritual levels.

Snakes are also associated with the cyclical rebirth of Nature and the restoration of universal Order when it is disrupted. Quite often they are equated with a symbol of wisdom. In the Asia Minor tradition, two snakes were a common symbol of fertility, and in the Mesopotamian tradition, entwined snakes were considered the embodiment of a healing god.

Caduceus- a “magic” wand with small wings, which is entwined with two snakes. The writhing bodies of the snakes are intertwined in such a way that they form two circles around the staff - one circle per snake. Thus, symbolizing the fusion of two polarities: good - evil, right - left, light - darkness, etc., which corresponds to the nature of the created world.
Among the symbolic figures known since ancient times, the caduceus (messenger staff - Greek) has a special meaning. It is often called the rod of Hermes (Mercury), the ancient god of wisdom.
It is recognized that the serpent of wisdom is directly related to the seducing serpent. The snake, personifying wisdom, can become so only if it sheds its old skin - from the times when it was the bearer of evil.
The wings of the caduceus symbolize the ability to cross any boundaries, airiness; core – power; double snake - opposite sides in dualism, which must ultimately unite. The two snakes, healing and poisonous (illness and health), mean that “nature can overcome nature.”
The Caduceus also represents the unity of the two sexes. In alchemy, this is male sulfur and female mercury, the power of transformation, sleep and awakening, dissolution and coagulation of the “Great Experience”.
The caduceus is worn by all messengers of peace and protection, and it is their main attribute. It is worn by the Egyptian Anubis; Greco-Roman Hermes, Phoenician Baal, and sometimes Isis and Ishtar. The caduceus was also found in India.
In occultism it is considered a symbol of the key that opens the limit between darkness and light, good and evil, life and death (it is with this meaning that the use as a symbol is probably associated

A symbol similar to the caduceus was found in ancient Indian monuments. In the esoteric directions of Buddhism, the caduceus rod symbolizes the axis of the world, and the snake symbolizes cosmic energy, Snake fire or Kundalini, traditionally represented as coiled at the base of the spine (analogous to the world axis on a microcosmic scale). Wrapping around the central axis, the snakes connect at seven points and are connected to the chakras. Kundalini sleeps in the base chakra, and when, as a result of evolution, it awakens, it ascends along the spine along three paths: the central one, Shusumna, and two lateral ones, which form two intersecting spirals - Pingala (this is the right, male and active spiral) and Ida (the left , feminine and passive).
Whatever interpretation of the caduceus (both those given above and those not mentioned in the work) turns out to be correct, it, according to most researchers, was one of the most ancient symbols of the Creative Power. Therefore, it was believed that all the laws of knowledge that govern Nature were revealed to those who owned the caduceus.
To this day, the caduceus serves as a symbol of trade and diplomacy.
It was often used as a heraldic sign: it was present, in particular, on the coat of arms of the Kharkov province.

Modern Coats of Arms:

Source: Encyclopedia of mystical terms. M., 1998; Hall J. Dictionary of plots and symbols in art. M., 1999; Mythological dictionary. M., 1991.

Caduceus (lat.), or kerikion(ancient Greek: κηρύκειον, κηρύκιον, ῥάβδοςor σκῆπτρον) - the rod of heralds among the Greeks and Romans; the name of the rod of Hermes (Mercury), which had the ability to reconcile. Similar symbols were common among other ancient peoples (see uraeus Wadjet). Like the modern parliamentary flag, it was a necessary attribute of heralds sent to the enemy camp and a guarantee of their integrity.
In occultism it is considered a symbol of the key that opens the limit between darkness and light, good and evil, life and death (it is with this meaning that the use as a symbol of medicine is probably associated).

The Rod of Caduceus or the Rod of Hermes in the occult sciences is a symbol of the key that opens the boundary between light and darkness, life and death, good and evil. This rod is a symbol of the interacting and complementary forces of nature.

Two snakes curling around the shaft of this symbol mean two opposites that strive for union. In medicine, two snakes, poisonous and healing, mean illness and healing. In Asia Minor cultures, two intertwined snakes symbolize fertility. And, for example, in alchemy, the snakes on this rod symbolize the male and female principles (male sulfur and female mercury), a symbol of dissolution and penetration, a symbol of the interaction of two principles. Two snakes intertwining and striving to unite represent wisdom.

The wings on this rod mean the ability to cross any obstacles, a symbol of air.
The cane in this rod symbolizes the axis of the world, down and up along which, between Heaven and Earth, all the gods-messengers and intermediaries move, therefore this rod is considered a symbol of mediation, agreement, and trade.

In ancient times, the Rod of Hermes was also a symbol of messengers who carried the rod as a sign of peace and protection.
This rod is an attribute not only of Hermes, in whose hands it signifies health and youth; the Egyptian Anubis also wears it; the Phoenician Baal and sometimes Isis and Ishtar. In the hands of the gods, this rod symbolizes the Sky and the Moon.
One of the main meanings in all cultures of the world, this symbol means proportionality: the evolutionary process of matter cannot overtake the evolutionary process of spirit or lag behind it. Harmonious development of body and spirit.

Caduceus... This symbol is so ancient that it is almost impossible to establish when it appeared. But let’s still try to lift the veil of his origin! Caduceus - a staff entwined with two snakes with or without wings, was an attribute of deities in India and Ancient Egypt, in Phenicia and Sumer, in Greece, Rome and throughout the Mediterranean, in Iran and even in pre-Columbian America, that is, wherever there was fear the reverence of ignorant people before incomprehensible phenomena or manifestations of extraordinary qualities and capabilities of creatures “divine” for the local population.
And no matter what deity held it in his hands: Serapis, Asclepius or Hermes, Mercury or Aesculapius, the caduceus always reflected the same thing: the principle of universal movement. Question: what and where?
Not long ago, I published an interesting article for those who like to “move” towards spiritual development using accelerated methods. It was about artificially stimulating human vital potential and achieving “nirvana” through the so-called rise of Kundalini energy along the spinal cord to Sahasrara. We are talking about awakening the activity of the Snake Fire, or Kundalini, when, coiling around the central axis, the snakes connect at seven points, which are connected to the main chakras. Yoga treatises explain that Kundalini, the Serpent Fire, “sleeps” in the base chakra in the form of a coiled snake, and when, as a result of evolution, it awakens, it ascends along the spine along three paths: the central one, Sushumna, and two lateral ones, which form two intersecting spirals , - Pingale (this is the right, male and active, spiral) and Ide (the left, female and passive).

As can be seen from the figure, this “effect Kundalini"is an exact copy CADUCEUS.

More precisely, the caduceus symbolizes the awakening of Kundalini.

But did this symbol always mean exactly this phenomenon?

Moreover, the direction of Ida and Pingala does not correspond to the location of these “snakes”. Ida and Pingala in a man or a woman are directed in different directions due to the difference in their hormonal systems, and the heads of the snakes are both directed upward, which manifests itself only in white tantra, that is, in the harmonious fusion of equal partners, or as a result of endless training to balance the autonomic nervous system. systems: sympathetic and parasympathetic branches.

The Caduceus can be found in the form of two snakes entwined around a staff on Egyptian monuments built before the cult of Osiris. It is believed that Greek poets and myth-makers borrowed this symbol from the Egyptians, and from the Greeks the caduceus, in turn, was allegedly adopted by the Romans (Romeans). The Greeks remade it, since at first it had a different appearance: the rod, first depicted entwined with vines, then began to be depicted with two snakes. Again we find it in the hands of Aesculapius taking a different form compared to the scepter of Mercury or Hermes. It is a cosmic, sidereal or astronomical, as well as a spiritual and even physiological symbol; its meaning changes with application. And the Latin word caduceum comes from the priestly “messenger, harbinger” (messenger of Vesta, that is, conscience). This is a symbol of the Leader and the Initiate, the Messenger, because it is not enough to cognize and know, it is equally important to be able to transmit knowledge. In ancient times, such messengers, direct representatives and messengers of the gods were the Magi, who healed the soul and body of a person - they were connected with the Creative Power, all the laws that govern Nature were revealed to them. Spiritual maturity allowed them to recognize the nature of the disease and select the best medicine. In those days, kings and kings were both priests and healers. It is curious that in Greek the word caduceus has a common root with the word rooster. Caduceus (lat. caduceus) or kerikion (Greek κηρύκειον) is the staff of heralds among the Greeks and Romans. The rooster as a symbol is found already in the first centuries of our era. It was believed that his singing not only drove away evil spirits, but also brought relief to the sick after suffering, which often worsened at night, accompanied by melancholy, insomnia or sleepwalking. And the rooster, as you know, is a great harbinger of morning and the Sun. In occultism it is considered a symbol of the key that opens the limit between darkness and light, good and evil, life and death. Here’s how one of the church fathers, Ambrose of Milan (III century), wrote about this: “How pleasant is the crowing of a rooster at night. And not only pleasant, but also useful. This cry inspires hope in everyone’s heart; patients feel relief, pain in wounds decreases: with the arrival of light, the heat of the fever subsides.”

So, most likely, the caduceus (kerikion) served as a reminder of a certain danger that awaits people who have become reckless from drinking wine and other narcotic substances, because this symbol was carried by heralds in countries where the cult of Dionysius (Bacchus) was developed...
As a symbol of healing, the image of a rooster and snake also existed in Ancient China. According to the teachings of Chinese doctors, a necessary condition for health was the harmony of two principles in the human body: yin and yang. The personification of the masculine principle (yang) was the rooster, and the feminine principle (yin) was the snake. I consider this assumption to be quite free, since this predetermines a certain “snake” nature of a woman and a “eagle” nature of a man. Yin and yang are just multidirectional flows of energy that interact, and the snake is a symbol of poison in a reasonable amount (rooster), which creates the possibility of healing from excessive imbalance. The bird has always represented intelligence and divinity, and the snake has always represented adaptability and flexibility. This is confirmed by the symbol of medicine in the Renaissance, which was often depicted as a woman crowned with laurels with a staff entwined with a snake and a rooster in her hand. In the 13th century images of a staff with a snake and a singing rooster decorated the title pages of medical works. Since 1696, the golden rooster appeared on the coat of arms of French doctors, although here the meaning was somewhat different, but we’ll talk about that another time...
However, we should not forget that this same symbol was an attribute of divinity in pre-Columbian America. This means that it also belongs to the cultural heritage of Atlantis, in connection with this the Gnostic sect of the “ophites”, which means “serpentine”, is of interest. There is an opinion that the Gnostic Christian sect of the “ophites” are admirers of the snake race of the Atlanteans. The symbol of the Atlantean gods was the snake. Information about the same Christian sect has reached us under the name “Naassenes” (Hebrew “nahash” - snake). Another name for them is "Sethians". They were joined by “Cainites” and “Peratics” (a very interesting name in view of the above). Several Ophite texts are believed to have been found in the Nag Hammadi library.
The fact is that the snake cult is characteristic of all peoples connected in one way or another with the Atlanteans. In particular, the Hellenes believed that their ancestors were the Ophites, a snake people from the western sea, whose emblem was a snake with an egg in its mouth. And not only the Hellenes, but also the Celtic tribes and the American Indians declared the same thing.
The Ophites revered Christ as a serpentine incarnation, worshiped him as the “Good Serpent,” who personified wisdom and gave people true knowledge, and believed in the plurality of his incarnations. “Nachash” and “Messiah” in Hebrew have the same numerical meaning. Along with with this, the Ophites taught about other serpents hostile to the human race. Apparently, it was from these hostile serpents that Jesus derived the essence of the Jews, calling them “brood of vipers.”
Ophite gnosis was especially widespread in Egypt, where, as is known from the Slavic-Aryan Vedas, RIGHTEOUS people, the saved Atlanteans, were transported by “heavenly power.”

And Niy and the Elements will destroy that land,
And she will hide in the depths of the Great Waters,
Also hid in Ancient times
In the depths of the northern waters - the Sacred Daaria...
Gods of the Race WILL SAVE RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE
AND THE POWER OF HEAVEN WILL TRANSFER THEM TO THE EAST,
To the lands of people with SKIN THE COLOR OF DARKNESS...

Many people have probably read Dan Brown’s book “The Da Vinci Code.” I won’t talk about its artistic component now, but one of its main ideas was that fairly well-known symbols can have a different meaning than they used to think.
I decided to write a series of posts about well-known symbolism and the meaning it had at different times and for different peoples.
Let's start with the caduceus. Everyone has probably seen at the entrance to hospitals, on ambulances, on pharmaceuticals, a bowl with a snake entwined around it or a stick with the same snake. Sometimes two snakes are intertwined around this stick - this is the caduceus.

Caduceus is an ancient Indian symbol. Later it became a symbol of medicine. In Hinduism, it characterizes the point of confluence of Ida and Pingala (see below for what Ida and Pingala are). They wrap themselves around the fire energy of Sushumna, which flows through the middle channel of the spine and represents their integration. In the west, the caduceus is the rod of Hermes, the god of alchemy, which is a golden rod entwined with two snakes, symbols of two opposites to be integrated, such as sulfur and mercury, heat and moisture, spirit and matter. They neutralize each other in the integrative gold of the wand.

The Caduceus is the fundamental dualism of existence that must be integrated into the unity of the stone of wisdom or the Elixir of Life. Therefore, the caduceus is a symbol of balance, which is achieved through the union of opposites. Symbolically, it can represent the internal conflict of biological and spiritual forces.

According to Greek legend, the caduceus was given to Hermes by Apollo. He had the ability to stop disputes and reconcile enemies.

When Hermes threw it between the two fighting snakes, they immediately stopped biting and wrapped themselves around the cane in unison, bowing their heads towards each other. This is how the coduceus appeared, with which Hermes never parted. The coduceus survived antiquity in the form of a staff used by the bishops of the Greek Church. Hermes provided assistance to gods and heroes, and mere mortals who turned to him. He protected the flocks of simple shepherds, accompanied travelers, gave strength and agility to athletes, quick feet to runners, and helped merchants make a profit. In general, any hard worker could receive support from him.

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Staff

The staff of Asclepius, around which a snake coils, was usually depicted as a rough wooden stick with branches. It symbolizes the connection with the earth and the traveling staff, signifying the long journeys of the doctor. Medical treatises of Ancient India recommended that the doctor have a staff, since patients trusted more experienced and elderly people. Sushruta and Charaka wrote about this. The staff of Asclepius became the prototype of the medical cane. In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, medicine, antidote, aromatics or vinegar were sometimes found in its upper part to protect against infection. Here it is appropriate to recall the famous sword of Paracelsus, which this doctor never parted with.

Star of Life with the Staff of Asclepius (often depicted on ambulances)

The caduceus of Hermes became a general medical symbol during the Renaissance. This is probably due to the fact that in the 16th century alchemy began to develop, the patron of which was Hermes. The main goal of alchemical experiments at this time was not the search for the philosopher's stone, but the obtaining of medicines. Alchemists usually put a seal with the image of Hermes on vessels with medicinal preparations. The caduceus was often crowned with ravens as one of the symbols of alchemy. The result of the combination of alchemical
At this time, iatrochemistry became an art with the art of healing, the great representative of which was Paracelsus. However, he himself was more willing to use the pentagram as a symbol of medicine.
The wings of the caduceus symbolize the ability to cross any boundaries, airiness; rod - power; double snake - opposite sides in dualism, which must ultimately unite. The two snakes, healing and poisonous (disease and health), have a hermetic and homeopathic meaning: nature can overcome nature. The Caduceus is a symbol of the complementary nature of these two forces operating in the universe and the union of the two sexes. They represent the forces of connection and separation, good and evil, fire and water, ascension and descent, as well as balance, wisdom and fertility. In alchemy it is the male sulfur and the female mercury, the power of transformation, sleep and awakening, the dissolution and coagula (solve et coagula) of the Great Experience, the synthesis of opposites and the penetrating function of meditation between the higher and lower levels of reality. The wand or staff of the messenger is the axis mundi

In Hinduism, this symbol is interpreted as follows: “Ida and Pingala and the Central Channel (chakra system) On the left - Ida. Wrapping around the sushumna, it goes to the right nostril. On right - pingala. Wrapping around the sushumna, it goes to the left nostril."

The solar and lunar currents (ida and pingala) are located to the right and left of the central channel. Rising from muladhara, they intersect with sushumna at the points of the chakras, connecting at the ajna chakra (at a place called “mukta-triveni”).

So we can say that this symbol has existed since ancient times among many peoples and it is not for nothing that it eventually became an international symbol of medicine

- (lat. caduceus). A laurel or olive rod entwined with two snakes, a symbol of peace, was an attribute of the heralds sent to the enemy camp and a guarantee of their integrity. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language.... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

caduceus- I, m. caducée m. , lat. caduceum 1. A rod (stick) with two snakes entwined on its sides, serving as an emblem (sign) of peace and eloquence. Pavlenkov 1911. Two joined hands holding a stick entwined with snakes (caduceum) between two horns... ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language

Rod of Mercury (messenger of the gods). Wed. They put the governor in the empty, useless “Main House” so that the government place would not go to waste. The caduceus was removed from the doors and windows, perhaps because the governor is not supposed to trade.... ... Michelson's Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary (original spelling)

- (Greek messenger's staff), staff with two snakes. According to myths, Hermes (see HERMES), the messenger of the gods, having received a winged staff with the power to reconcile opponents, decided to test it and placed it between two fighting snakes, which immediately... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

- (caduceus) a rod entwined with two snakes, an attribute of Hermes (Mercury). The emblem of messengers, heralds, envoys... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Noun, number of synonyms: 1 rod (11) ASIS Dictionary of Synonyms. V.N. Trishin. 2013… Synonym dictionary

Caduceus- in Dr. In Greece and Rome, the herald's staff was in the form of a wooden rod topped with wings and entwined with two snakes. Usually made from olive or laurel wood. K. was a necessary attribute of heralds sent to the enemy camp... Encyclopedia of Law

CADUCEUS- a golden rod entwined with two snakes and crowned with two wings. Acted as an attribute of the Greek god Hermes and by analogy with the Roman Mercury. According to one version, the caduceus originally had the shape of an olive branch or twig with... ... Symbols, signs, emblems. Encyclopedia

The wings of the caduceus symbolize the ability to cross any boundaries, airiness; rod power; double snake opposite sides in dualism that must ultimately unite. Two snakes, healing and poisonous (disease and health), ... ... Dictionary of symbols

Rod of Mercury (messenger of the gods) Wed. They put the governor in the empty, useless Main House, not to let the government place go to waste. The caduceus was removed from the doors and windows, perhaps because the governor is not supposed to trade. Melnikov. On the… … Michelson's Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary

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CADUCEUS(Greek) Greek poets and myth-makers took the idea of ​​the Caduceus of Mercury from the Egyptians. The Caduceus can be found in the form of two snakes coiled around a staff on Egyptian monuments built in front of Osiris. The Greeks remade it. Again we find it in the hands of Aesculapius taking a different form compared to the scepter of Mercury or Hermes. It is a cosmic, sidereal or astronomical, as well as a spiritual and even physiological symbol; its meaning changes with application. Metaphysically, the Caduceus depicts the fall of primary and primordial matter into gross earthly matter; a single Reality becoming an Illusion. (See "Mystery Doct.", I, p. 685). Astronomically, the head and tail represent points on the ecliptic where the planets and even the sun and moon meet in a close embrace. Physiologically, this is a symbol of restoring the lost balance between Life as a whole and the currents of life that perform different functions in the human body.

Source: Blavatskaya E.P. - Theosophical Dictionary

The science of chemistry is now forced, by the state of things, to accept even our illustration of the evolution of the Gods and Atoms, so convincingly and irrefutably depicted in the caduceus of Mercury, the God of Wisdom, and in the allegorical language of the Archaic Sages. This is what one of the Commentaries in the Esoteric Doctrine says:

« Trunk ASVATTHA [tree of Life and Being, ROD of Caduceus] grows and descends at every Beginning[each new Manvantara] from two dark wings of the Swan[HANSA] Life. Two Serpents, the Eternal One and His Illusion[Spirit and Matter], two heads of which grow from one head between the wings, descend along the pillar intertwined in a close embrace. Two tails join on Earth[manifest Universe] into one, and this is a great illusion, O Lanu!»

Everyone knows what the Caduceus is, significantly modified by the Greeks. The original symbol - with the triple head of the Serpent - turned into a staff with a knob, and the two lower heads were separated, thus somewhat changing the original meaning. Yet this rod of Laius, entwined with two serpents, remains the best illustration for our purpose. Truly, the miraculous powers of the magical Caduceus were sung by all the poets of antiquity with good reason for those who understood the secret meaning.

« Fohat runs in spirals to unite the six with the seventh».

Question 9. Does the word “spiral” have any special meaning here, and is the spiral action particularly associated with Fohat?

Blavatsky: Yes it is. And it is necessary that the neutral line (or zero point, as Crookes calls it) with centrifugal and centripetal [movements] be launched in a spiral, otherwise they will completely neutralize each other. I don't know what else to call it. The neutral point can be destroyed. Now look in this volume about gods, monads and atoms on p. 550, where the caduceus of Hermes is presented. And if anyone wants to know the explanation, let them read it. This spiral is represented by the caduceus of Hermes. If you have a center point or a center line like this (draws), it should be a center line. As soon as you touch it, everything that was differentiated again becomes undifferentiated and falls into the perfect Absolute. Therefore, of course, your spirals should go this way. One force goes like this (illustrates), and here is the caduceus of Hermes, creating all these miracles in his hands. Look at this and you will see healing powers and everything in the world, that's what it means. And Mr. Crooks (you may have read this) talks about the figure 8, he found that all these forces go like this, in a figure of eight, and the middle line is the center line. Therefore, here we completely coincide with ordinary science, for which I feel proud. This is page 550.

The caduceus is a golden rod with snakes symmetrically located around it. Sometimes it is crowned with a pair of outstretched wings. The word caduceum came into Latin from Greek, where it was used in the meaning of “messenger”, “harbinger”.

He was associated with various deities:

• Ancient Egypt
• India
• Greece
• Phenicia
• Total Mediterranean
• Iran
• America before the discovery of the continent by Columbus

Which deities carried the rod of power

Signifying health and youth, the caduceus is considered an attribute of the Greek god Mercury (or by analogy the Roman god Hermes). It is worn by many other deities, among which one can recall the Egyptian Anubis, the Phoenician Baal, and the Sumerian Ishtar. In Christianity, the caduceus can be seen in the right hand of St. Sophia depicted in numerous icons.

Whatever deity it appeared on: Hermes, Serapis, Aesculapius or Asclepius, the caduceus always served as a reflection of the principle of universal movement. The attribute symbolizes interacting and complementary natural forces.

Caduceus of Hermes

There is a theory that the symbol originally resembled the outline of a branch from an olive tree or a twig decorated with several leaves. Later, the original image was changed, receiving a tip in the form of a ball and a crescent, and later two snakes were added that wrapped around the central rod. According to other sources, the image of a snake has always been an integral part of the caduceus and was used as a sign of healing.

Homer believes that Hermes acquired the caduceus after an exchange with Apollo - giving up a pipe for it. There is also a radically different theory, according to which this attribute was made specifically for Hermes. According to legend, Hermes used a rod to separate two fighting snakes. As a result, the latter grew to the central rod.

The caduceus could be used to put people to sleep and awaken them from sleep. That is why it was often depicted as an emblem of dreams. In the context of psychoanalysis, the caduceus acts as a phallic sign. It is associated with sublimation (a mechanism for getting rid of internal tension) of sleep.

In a broader interpretation, the caduceus appears to be a symbol of magic and sorcery. In the understanding of Hermeticists who study the highest laws of nature, the caduceus is the key to the underworld. They believe that Hermes uses it to open the gates of the underworld to the souls of the dead.

In Roman mythology about Hermes’s double, Mercury, it is said that he used this staff to reconcile two fighting snakes (disorder, chaos). Since then, in Ancient Rome, the Caduceus has been considered a symbol of peace, harmony, balanced and virtuous behavior.

Epictetus says:

There is such a stick of Hermes, touch whatever you want with it. Everything you touch, be it leather, wood or anything else, will turn into gold. Yes, that's true. Bring to me a sick or dying person, a disaster or a difficulty - I can transform all this with the stick of Hermes. Oh great God who gave us this tool

Caduceus variety

Some researchers believe that the caduceus had some prototype in Ancient Egypt. It was a rod bordered by the moon and the solar disk. There was an opinion that this was the same rod in which reverence for the Sun was combined with faith in the mystical powers of the Moon.

The caduceus can be shaped like a ball and topped with horns, which symbolizes the Sun in Phoenician and Hittite culture. Discovered in India, the caduceus is believed to be the astronomical sign of Hermes (or Mercury).

The meaning of the Caduceus in different cultures

The interpretations of the meaning of the caduceus that exist in the modern world are striking in their number. In almost all cultures, this symbol mainly emphasizes proportionality. This means that the evolution of matter cannot occur at a faster or slower pace than the evolution of spirit.

The wings on the wand contain the ability to overcome any obstacles. They are associated with the element of air and the personification of spirit.

A rod with two snakes entwined around it combines several basic symbolic elements. The central shaft contains phallic power and the symbol of the Tree of Life, signifying the connection between heaven and earth. The rod itself represents the axis of our world, along which various intermediaries, as well as messenger gods, move from bottom to top and vice versa. That is why the caduceus, symbolizing peace and protection, is considered the main symbol of all messengers.

With their heads turned upside down, the snakes form a double helix, indicating cosmic energy. They also represent the unity of opposites that strive to unite. Separately, the snake carries within itself the fruitfulness of the forces of the earthly and afterlife worlds.

The Caduceus combines two radically different forces of the Universe, which are of a complementary nature. This includes:

• good and evil
• Fire and Water
• Connection and separation
• Ascent and Descend

The caduceus also symbolizes the union of the two sexes. This is the embodiment of balance and a symbol of one of the models of the World.

In Asia Minor, a pair of snakes was often used as a symbol of fertility. In Mesopotamia, two twisted snakes embodied the healing god. They mean evolutionary changes and the paired beginning of the universe, like yin and yang in the concepts of ancient Chinese natural philosophy. With the symmetrical placement of snakes and wings, the balance of opponents is revealed, the harmony of development of the lower and higher (physical and spiritual) levels is emphasized.

Snakes also mean the periodic renewal of Nature and the world Order in case of its violation. They are often seen as a symbol of wisdom.

Caduceus in alchemy

In alchemy, such snakes are associated with the unity of opposites (mercury as the feminine principle and sulfur as the masculine principle). They are identified with the limitless possibilities of transformation, sleep and awakening, the mutual complementation of opposites and meditation connecting the higher and lower levels of reality.

In medicine, one of the snakes is considered healing, and the other is poisonous. They symbolize health and illness. The main message of the symbol in Hermeticism and homeopathy: nature is able to overcome nature.

The caduceus became associated with alchemy as a "hermetic science" already in the Middle Ages. Then it was gradually transferred to the general designation of esotericism and occult sciences. Initially, it was considered the main symbol of medicine, but over time it was replaced by a bowl with a snake. The two snakes could hint at the ambiguous nature of medicine: the snake's sting could be used for both therapeutic purposes and to obtain poison.

The caduceus began to be identified with medicine due to the presence of snakes in it, which symbolize rejuvenation. The Roman god of medicine, Aesculapius, had an attribute in the form of a staff with one snake. According to Jung's theory, the caduceus symbolizes homeopathic medicine, where snakes can represent both poison and medicine.

The meaning of Caduceus in Buddhism

An attribute resembling a caduceus was discovered in monuments from ancient India. For the last 4,000 years it has been associated with the powers of the gods. In India, Phenicia, Babylon and Egypt, it served as a designation for the energy of awakening - kundalini, or Serpent Fire.

In esotericism, the caduceus rod is analogous to the axis mundi. In the context of this science, snakes represent cosmic energy (called kundalini). This energy is thought of as a unique force coiled at the base of the spine. Spinning around an axis, snakes find seven points of contact. These points are associated with the chakras.

An energy called kundalini is believed to lie dormant in the base chakra. And if the evolutionary process awakens it, it rises up through three channels: along the central path and two side ones, which form two intersecting spirals - male and female. The male spiral is active and is located on the right, the female spiral is passive and is located on the left.

Whatever interpretation of the caduceus is correct, most scientists and researchers believe that this symbol refers to one of the most ancient designations of the Creative Power. That is why it was believed that the owner of the caduceus had access to all the laws of knowledge that govern Nature.

Caduceus today

Today the caduceus is used as a symbol of trade and diplomacy. It denotes the secrecy of political or commercial correspondence.

The caduceus forms part of the symbol of the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation.

In the not so distant past it was often used in heraldry. For example, the coat of arms of the Kharkov province was decorated with this symbol.

It appeared on the coats of arms of a number of cities of the Russian Empire, including Nezhin, Irbit, Berdichev, Balta, Feodosia, Talny, Yeniseisk, Tiflis.

In the USA, the caduceus was used as a symbol of medicine.