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Does someone know what the design in the picture below is called?

I have seen this design in international symbol of medicine.

A design of two snakes wrapped around a winged pole

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Do you want to know the word "tattoo" or are you looking for the name of the design of the tattoo? – Matt Эллен Jul 3 '12 at 13:42
I was searching for the name of the design. Andrew posted the right answer. – Carlo_R. Jul 3 '12 at 13:53
I'm sorry, but I still think this is off topic, whether or not you use a tattoo. – simchona♦ Jul 3 '12 at 14:29
Thank you @simchona. I am happy for your correctness as manifested in circumstances like this. – Carlo_R. Jul 3 '12 at 14:36
I've found the original tattoo image here: pennarcobaleno.jimdo.com/significato-tatuaggi-simboli/… – Andrew Leach Jul 3 '12 at 14:38
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closed as off topic by simchona♦, Mahnax, JSBձոգչ, Mr. Shiny and New 安宇, cornbread ninja 麵包忍者 Jul 3 '12 at 14:27

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1 Answer

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Caduceus

The caduceus (from Greek κηρύκειον kērukeion "herald's staff") is the staff carried by Hermes in Greek mythology. The same staff was also borne by heralds in general, for example by Iris, the messenger of Hera. It is a short staff entwined by two serpents, sometimes surmounted by wings. In Roman iconography it was often depicted being carried in the left hand of Mercury, the messenger of the gods, guide of the dead and protector of merchants, shepherds, gamblers, liars, and thieves.

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The connection with medicine (this is an international symbol of medicine) is because Asclepius, the god of medicine, carried a rod with a single serpent, and that is often confused with the double-barreled rod of Hermes. Now that you can't tell one god from another, they're identical, for all intensive purposes. – John Lawler Jul 3 '12 at 14:15
I'm amazed that some in the medical profession use it. In the UK, the wingless single-snake Rod of Asclepius is used [almost-certainly] exclusively. See my local ambulance service for a typical example. – Andrew Leach Jul 3 '12 at 14:20
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@JohnLawler 'for all intensive purposes'? – cornbread ninja 麵包忍者 Jul 3 '12 at 14:23
It took 7 minutes? – GEdgar Jul 3 '12 at 14:27
@JohnLawler: In case it wasn't obvious, what cornbread ninja is getting at is that "for all intensive purposes" is a mondegreen of "for all intents and purposes". I.E. you're doing it wrong. – chaos Jul 3 '12 at 21:48
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