A staff with a single serpent coiled around it, associated in Greek mythology with Asclepius, the god of medicine.
Also known as: Staff of Asclepius, Asklepian
Sometimes confused with: Caduceus
Depicting a single snake wound around a staff, the Rod of Asclepius originates in ancient Greek mythology as the attribute of Asclepius, god of medicine, and remains the historically and professionally appropriate symbol of medicine — used by the World Health Organization and the American Medical Association — though frequently confused with the two-snake, winged caduceus.
Used today as the emblem of numerous medical bodies, including the World Health Organization and the American Medical Association, as the historically correct symbol of medicine — distinct from the caduceus.
Contexts: Medicine
A vertical staff with a single snake coiled around it.