Symbolic staff surmounted by two wings and antwined with two
snakes.  Kerykeion = Caduceus in Greek = A heralds wand
(Keryx = announce / herald) In ancient Greece , the Caduceus was
carried by heralds and ambassadors as a mark of personal
inviolability. Caduceus was the magic rod of the God Hermes that
had winged sandals . Myth says Hermes once threw his magic
wand at two snakes fighting on the ground.
The snakes became entangled in the magic wand and have been
attached to it ever since. In Roman mythology , the Caduceus have
been given to the God Mercury by the God Apollo.
The Originally wand carried by Hermes and Aesculapius , the God
of Medicine is classically characterized as a single serpent
encircling a rough hewn tree branch.
In the Bible ,in book of Exodus (After Genesis) chapter 4 and in the
fifth book Deuteronomy , Moses shappered's crook became a
snake and turn to wand again - When the God of Israel made
Moses to his herald  - to save the people of Israel from the
Egyptians and to lead them to the promised / Holy land.
Moses with his wand-snake turn the Nile's River water into blood
and made 9 more miracles to force Pharaoh , king of Eygept , to
give his Hebrews slaves their freedom.
The Caduceus has become a symbol of Medical Profession.

In Greek mythology , messenger of the Gods , son of the God
Zeus , and of Maia , the daughter of the Titan Atlas.  As Zeus
servent , Hermes had winged sandals and carried a Caduceus.
He brought the souls of the dead to the underworld and was also the
God of the commerce , the protector of the traders and herds , of
theifs and the diety of athletes. Hermes was also the god of the
wind ,wealth , manual skill , oratory and eloquence. He was
believed to be responsible for both Good Luck and Health. 

Mercury , in Roman mythology , messenger of the Gods , son of
the God Jupiter and Maia , the daughter of the Titan Atlas.  God of
merchants and of traiding , Mercury shared many of the attibutes of
the Greek God Hermes. The worship of Mercury was introducted
into the Rome in 495 BC.

Paramedic Neomi Zvi - Feb 2000