Caduceus of Hermes

Since time immemorial the snake has been venerated as an enigmatic creature with supernatural powers. As a snake and staff symbol it is also traditionally associated with the healing arts, either as the single-snake emblem of Asklepios, or as the double-snake emblem (caduceus) of Hermes. The mythological basis for this symbolism is reviewed. 

At the beginning of this series (Plate II-1), Hermes appeared in his most undeveloped form as the infant Mercurius, as printa materia, paired with his fixed, Saturnine form. Now we see the caduceus of Hermes, with its pair of intertwined snakes, representing the unification of the opposites, but lifted from a chthonic level. The two snakes are less tightly wound together as they ascend the caduceus. Their heads are held away from the caduceus and face one another. Hermes, in turn, seems to contemplate the two snakes and their awareness of one another. 

One of the main subjects of the Hermetica is medicine, and in a series of texts Hermes instructs Asclepius, the semi-divine healer of Greek mythology. The Staff of Asclepius, a stick with a snake winding up it, is the international symbol for medicine, and Hermes Caduceus, with two snakes, has also become widely used as a medical symbol. The perfect equihbrium symboHsed by the Caduceus is the aim of aU hoHstic medicine. Thus all alchemists, as Sons and Daughters of Hermes consider themselves healers, and often refer to the Stone itself as the Universal Medicine. Jabir Ibn Hayyan [721-815], Michael Maier [1568-1622], and Robert Fludd [1574-1670], were all notable physicians as well as legendary alchemists. 

FIGURE 99. Title page (hand-colored see color plates) from Liber de Arte Distillandi (Heironymous Brunschwig, 1512), depicting a double-still in which the central tower contains cooling water that is continuously replenished. Come to think of it, this apparatus evokes an image of the caduceus two serpents entwined about the staff of Hermes where the loops symbolize couplings. (From the Othmer Library, CHF.)... 

At the top of the picture, Saturn, or Hermes, rides in a chariot pulled by two prancing, firebreathing dragons. He holds a sickle in his right hand and a caduceus in his left hand. The sickle refers to Hermes Saturnine aspect as the Great Reaper, the representation of Death or Limitation. In life, Hermes Saturnine aspect is associated with resignation and with futile, useless repetition and suffering. 

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