this post was submitted on 14 Sep 2025
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Funny

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[–] SeductiveTortoise@piefed.social 47 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Yes, but no. The correct symbol would be this one:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_of_Asclepius

But someone fucked up a hundred years ago and now we're here.

[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Did they fuck up or fuck it up?

[–] SeductiveTortoise@piefed.social 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The modern use of the caduceus as a symbol of medicine became established in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century as a result of well-documented mistakes and misunderstandings of symbology and classical culture. Critics of this practice say that the correct symbol for medicine is the Rod of Asclepius, which has only one snake and no wings.

[–] DrMartinu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Man, why's it feel like next your going to tell me the green cross badge my brother got in boyscouts wasn't for smoking weed

[–] SeductiveTortoise@piefed.social 1 points 2 weeks ago

No, that one is valid. I'll light one for her.

[–] TimewornTraveler@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

wow!

very interesting, never noticed they were two different symbols

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 5 points 2 weeks ago

+1 for arcane knowledge!