Godly Weapons

Today we are looking at the mischievous past of Hermes and his Caduceus!

Herme’s Caduceus a well-known symbol, often used as a symbol of medicine, especially in the United States. It’s also a symbol of commerce since Hermes is the patron god of commerce. The Caduceus is a staff with twin snakes wrapped around it, with a pair of wings near the top.

Hermes was gifted the Caduceus by Apollo, his half brother after Hermes invented and gave him the lyre. Hermes had invented the lyre on the day he was born, by using a tortoiseshell, reeds, an ox’s hide, and strings of sheep gut to make the first seven-stringed lyre. After he got into grief with Apollo about stealing his cattle, Hermes played it, awing Apollo with the music. He gave it to him and in return, Apollo gifted him the Caduceus.

Despite the fact that the Caduceus is used to represent medicine, the Rod of Asclepius should be used as the true symbol. The mix up is the result of the U.S Army Medical Corps adopting it in 1902, on the insistence of a single officer, whose identity is disputed. The Rod of Asclepius is a staff with a single snake coiled around it. It is the symbol and staff of the god Asclepius, the god of medicine, healing, rejuvenation, and physicians, who was known for curing all ailments and even once bringing people back from the dead.

The Caduceus is also used in various sets of arms and government flags, consisting of Finland, France, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Sweden, Belarus, China, Australia, and Canada. The flags are either unofficial country flags, customs flags, or city flags, which is why you may not have seen them before!

Fun facts about Hermes and his Caduceus:

• The Caduceus is also one of the most ancient symbols in the Middle East, with the serpents both representing beauty and wisdom as well as venom

• Hermoea is the name of festivals thrown in Hermes honour

• Hermes convinced Calypso to release Odysseus from the island of Ogygia in the Oddessy

• In Zeus’s opinion, the best thing about Hermes was his capacity to keep a secret

• Hermes was the one who gave Pandora her human voice

• Out of all of the Olympians, Hermes was the only one who was admitted to Olympus, the human world, and the Underworld, since he had to transfer the souls of the dead to the Underworld

That’s all for today! Stay tuned for weapon history!