The Serpent on a Pole

Yesterday morning I was asked if the brass serpent Moses lifted up in the wilderness (to which Jesus refers in John 3) had anything to do with the symbol used by the American Medical Association, also depicting a serpent on a pole. Well, according to the AMA, their emblem is more mythological than biblical. Here's their explanation --

Why does the AMA symbol have a snake with a staff on it?

The AMA logo depicts the Staff of Aesculapius, a single snake wrapped around a rod or branch. The mythical figure of Aesculapius as a symbol of healing and medicine began to appear as early as 1200 BC. According to legend, Aesculapius, the son of the sun god Apollo, became so gifted in the healing arts that the god Pluto accused him of diminishing the population of the Underworld (Hades). Myth also describes how he came to choose his symbol. While examining a patient, Aesculapius killed a serpent that had surprised him. He then witnessed another snake place magical herbs in the mouth of the dead one and restore it to life. Impressed with this power, he chose a symbol that depicted a serpent coiled around his staff. Beginning in the 17th century, the Staff of Aesculapius enjoyed increased popularity as the primary symbol of medicine as the traditions of the Greco-Roman period were rediscovered.

The AMA has utilized this symbol in its logo since 1910. It is often confused with the Caduceus, a symbol that depicts two winged serpents intertwined around a single staff. While the modern day depiction of the Caduceus is often used to symbolize the profession of medicine, most scholars agree that this use is no longer appropriate.

-------------------------

There. Another good question answered.