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TATTOO DESIGNS & SYMBOLS - CADUCEUS TATTOOS
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Tattoo designs - C >>
Caduceus
 Caduceus or the
Physician's Staff
Tattoo - The caduceus derives from the Greek 'karykeion', meaning
'staff of the herald'. It was the symbol of the power to harm or to
heal. It appears in images of the ancient Egyptian god of wisdom,
Thoth, as a magic rod with twin snakes. Other variations show a
staff entwined with twin serpents, topped with a pair of wings, or a
winged sun and no snakes. Originally, those twin snakes may have
been ribbons attached to the wings, eventually evolving into
serpents.
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Greek legend tells of a seer who, coming upon a pair of copulating
serpents, tried to separate them by thrusting his staff between
them. For his efforts he was transformed into a woman. Two snakes
and a staff -- or wand -- became a symbol of transformative power. |
 Determining where those wings come from takes us into even deeper
mythology. Wings, of course, are synonymous with Hermes, the Greek
god who jetted about in his winged sandals at the behest of the
gods, and conducted the dead on their way to Hades. (The Romans
called him Mercury.) Hermes' magic wand turns out to be this very
same caduceus. His association with the healing arts stems from the
time (around 700 AD) when alchemists were referred to as 'the sons
of Hermes'.
 Today, the caduceus is seen as an emblem of commercial and military
organizations - the US army Medical Department made it their
official insignia. In some parts of the world it is used by
pharmaceutical companies. In the United States, many hospitals and
medical associations have the caduceus as their emblem. The true and
original symbol of medicine and healing, however, was the 'rod of
Asclepius', with one serpent coiled around the staff, not two.
 In yoga, the caduceus represents the serpent energy of the Kundalini,
the dual serpents suggesting both positive and negative energy. The
staff is the spine, the serpent the energy, and the wings signifying
the mind. Kundalini energy moves through the 'chakras' along the
spine until it reaches the head, the temple of the mind. Many
disciplines, schools of mystery, esotericism and magic have adopted
the Hermetic caduceus because of its association with the intellect,
mind communication, and its magical powers.
 Today there are many more variations on the theme of the Caduceus,
sometimes with the staff being replaced by a sword, a cross or a rocket, but
always with one or two serpents in the picture. Video games, comic
books, science fiction and animation have been inspired by the
symbolism of this ancient emblem.
The Caduceus has long been a popular tattoo design with individuals
who work in the medical profession.
Get inspired by some really great images and photos in our
Caduceus
Inspiration Gallery
See also: : Snakes,
Crosses,
Knife Tattoos,
Sword Tattoo,
Wings
Choose your own Caduceues Tattoo from these tattoo and design ideas
Tattoo designs - C >>
Caduceus
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