staff of Aesculapius

staff of Aes·cu·la·pi·us

noun \-ˌes-kyə-ˈlā-pē-əs\

Definition of STAFF OF AESCULAPIUS

: a conventionalized representation of a staff branched at the top with a single snake twined around it that is used as a symbol of medicine and as the official insignia of the American Medical Association—called also Aesculapian staff; compare caduceus a

Biographical Note for STAFF OF AESCULAPIUS

Aesculapius ??? mythological character. Aesculapius was the god of medicine in Greek and Roman mythology. Snakes were the god's sacred emblems, and the god was believed to be incarnate in them. According to myth, the chief god Zeus struck him with a lightning bolt for daring to bring the dead back to life.

Illustration of STAFF OF AESCULAPIUS