caduceus
caduceus, a herald’s staff (orig. an olive branch), the token of a peaceful embassy
➳ m. Varr. d. Non. 528 ; n. Gell. 10, 27, 1.
- , κηρύκειον, a herald's staff (orig. an olive branch), the token of a peaceful embassy: caduceo ornatus: oratores cum caduceo mittere, L.: caduceum praeferentes, L.
CADU´CEUS(κηρύκειον) was the staff or mace carried by Greek heralds and ambassadors in time of war. [PRAECO] (Pollux, 8.138; Thuc. 1.53; Hdt. 9.100.) This name is also given to the staff with which Hermes or Mercury is usually represented. The caduceus was originally only an olive branch with garlands (στέμμαρα), which were afterwards formed into snakes. (Müller, Archäol. der Kunst, p. 504.) Later mythologists invented tales about these snakes. Hyginus (Astron. 2.7) tells us that Mercury once found two snakes fighting, and separated them with his wand; from which circumstance they were used as an emblem of peace. (Macrob. Sat. 1.19; Plin. Nat.29.54.)
From caduceus was formed the word caduceator, which signified a person sent to treat for peace (Liv. 32.32; Nep. Hannib. 11; Ammian. 20.7; Gell. 10.27). The persons of the caduceatores were considered sacred (Cato, ap. Fest. s. v.; Cic. de Orat. 1.46, 202). The caduceus was not used by the Romans. They used instead verbenae and sagmina, which were carried by the Fetiales (Dig. 1, tit. 8, s. 8). [FETIALES]
[W.S] [W.M.L](κηρύκειον). The staff or mace carried by Greek ambassadors and heralds in time of war (Herod.ix. 100; Thuc.i. 53). The name is often given to the staff or wand with which Hermes, or Mercury, is conventionally represented. The caduceus was originally only an olive-branch with garlands, which were afterwards formed into snakes. About these snakes, later mythologists like Hyginus invented various stories—that Hermes once found two snakes fighting, and divided them with his wand; from which circumstance they were used as an emblem of peace.
From caduceus was formed the word caduceator, which signified a person sent to treat of peace. Thus Aulus Gellius tells us that Q. Fabius sent to the Carthaginians a spear and a caduceus as the emblems of war or peace (hastam et caduceum, signa duo belli aut pacis). The persons of the caduceatores were considered sacred.
It would appear, however, that the Roman ambassadors did not usually carry the caduceus, since Marcian informs us that they carried vervain (sagmina), so that no one might injure them, in the same manner as the Greek ambassadors carried the κηρύκεια. The illustration given above is from Millin's Peintures de Vases Antiques.