| The rod and the serpent: history's ultimate healing symbol. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20556606 Owner: NLM Status: In-Process |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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The snake has served as a medical emblem for more than 2400 years, since its association with the ancient Greek god of medicine and healing, Asclepius, in the 4th century BC. Its symbolic background can be traced further back to the worship of gods of earth's blossom in ancient Egypt and earth-related deities of the archaic period of Greek antiquity. It is featured entwined around a staff of knowledge and wisdom in most anaglyphs depicting Asclepius. The snake was impressed in the Old and the New Testament as well as in the Christian tradition as a symbol of sin, rejuvenation, death, resurrection, asthenia, and therapy. It is postulated that the double-snake motif was reintroduced by Renaissance philosophers as a medical emblem due to the symbolic connections of Hermes with deliverance and redemption. However, its use during the last two centuries seems to lack substantial historical background. The historical, mythological, and traditional retrospection of the snake's symbolism validates its appropriateness in the health-care field. |
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Authors:
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Stavros A Antoniou; George A Antoniou; Robert Learney; Frank A Granderath; Athanasios I Antoniou |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: World journal of surgery Volume: 35 ISSN: 1432-2323 ISO Abbreviation: World J Surg Publication Date: 2011 Jan |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-12-24 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 7704052 Medline TA: World J Surg Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 217-21 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Hospital Maria v. d. Aposteln Neuwerk, Mönchengladbach, Germany. |
Export Citation:
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Descriptor/Qualifier:
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| Comments/Corrections | |
Comment In:
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World J Surg. 2011 Jan;35(1):222-3
[PMID:
20848282
]
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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