caduceus

Meaning

1. The official wand carried by a herald in ancient Greece and Rome, specifically the one carried in mythology by Hermes, the messenger of the gods, usually represented with two snakes twined around it.
2. A symbol (☤) representing a staff with two snakes wrapped around it, used to indicate merchants and messengers. It is also sometimes incorrectly substituted for the rod of Asclepius as a symbol of medicine.

Translations

caduceo

caducée

caduceo

Hermesstab

caduceus

κηρύκειο

caduceu

Merkurstab

mercuriusstaf

Äskulapstab

Heroldstab des Merkur

Heroldstab

caduceu

vincastro

Pronounced as (IPA)

/kəˈdu.si.əs/

Etymology

Via Latin cādūceus, cādūceum, adaptation of Doric Ancient Greek καρύκειον (karúkeion, “herald’s wand or staff”). This and Attic Greek κηρύκειον (kērúkeion) are derived from κῆρυξ (kêrux, “herald, public messenger”). Related to κηρύσσω (kērússō, “I announce”).