It's based on the book of Numbers when Moses held up a serpent on a staff and all who looked upon it would live. Jesus explains it was typology of him being made into our sin(serpent) and raised up(crucified) in John 3 which is the lead in to the famous verse, John 3:16.
edit: I should add, that's the single snake version. The two snake version is the wand of Hermes the greek god of commerce hilariously enough.
Why is the emblem of medicine a snake wrapped around a staff?
It's based on the book of Numbers when Moses held up a serpent on a staff and all who looked upon it would live. Jesus explains it was typology of him being made into our sin(serpent) and raised up(crucified) in John 3 which is the lead in to the famous verse, John 3:16.
edit: I should add, that's the single snake version. The two snake version is the wand of Hermes the greek god of commerce hilariously enough.
Thanks pede, #NotAllSneks
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/8c698563-2e33-4e08-9ffe-b6e5d666f709
The satanist deity baphomet has a staff with twin snakes as well.