staff of Aesculapius, a staff carried by Aesculapius, the Greek god of medicine. It is used as the traditional symbol of the physician. A single serpent entwines the staff of Aesculapius. It is often confused with the caduceus, a staff with two serpents (which is the staff of Hermes, the Greek god of commerce and travel) symbolizing (because of this misunderstanding) the U.S. Army Medical Corps. See also Aesculapius.
