Unraveling the myths and charms of snakes

Snake curls god of healing

In Greek mythology, Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing, was almost always depicted as a middle-aged man holding a rod with a snake wrapped around it. The snake rod has inspired a number of fascinating legends and stories throughout history.

Some legends say the snake symbolizes its bite, the worst kind of poison someone could get in ancient times and often deadly. However, Asclepius had the power to heal a venomous bite, hence the almighty healing power of Asclepius.

The significance of the serpent has also been interpreted in many other ways. Sometimes the shedding of skin and renewal is emphasized as symbolizing rejuvenation, while other assessments center on the serpent as a symbol that unites and expresses the dual nature of the work of a physician, who deals with life and death, sickness and health. The ambiguity of the serpent as a symbol, and the contradictions it is thought to represent, reflect the ambiguity of the use of drugs, which can help or harm.

Products derived from snakes have been known to have medicinal properties since ancient times. Today the graphic of a snake rod appears on the emblems of World Health Organization and the Emergency Medical Center of China.