Hermes, Apollo and the Caduceus
After Hermes steals Apollo's cattle, the two gods reconcile. Their exchange of gifts includes the staff that becomes one of Hermes' defining attributes and later develops into the serpent-entwined caduceus.
The Story
Hermes begins displaying his extraordinary cleverness almost immediately after his birth.
Among his first exploits is the theft of cattle belonging to Apollo.
Apollo eventually discovers what has happened and confronts the young god.
The conflict does not end in permanent hostility. Instead, music and exchange transform the quarrel into friendship.
Hermes had invented the lyre. Apollo was so impressed by the instrument that the gods exchanged gifts and privileges.
How did Hermes receive his staff? In the Homeric Hymn to Hermes, Apollo gives Hermes a splendid golden staff as the two gods establish their friendship and divide their divine responsibilities.
Later traditions connect this staff with the caduceus, the herald's wand that becomes one of Hermes' most recognisable symbols.
Why does the caduceus have two snakes? Later accounts tell how Hermes encountered two fighting serpents and placed his staff between them. The snakes ceased fighting and became associated with the wand.
The caduceus therefore combines several aspects of Hermes' identity: messenger, herald, mediator, traveller and god capable of crossing boundaries between different worlds.
The staff should not be confused automatically with the Rod of Asclepius. The caduceus traditionally has two serpents, while the medical staff of Asclepius has one.
Key Figures
Why It Matters
The caduceus becomes one of the defining visual symbols of Hermes and illustrates how a divine attribute could develop through several layers of Greek and later classical tradition.
Traditions & Variations
The earliest traditions concerning Hermes' staff do not always describe the familiar two-serpent form. The serpent-entwined caduceus becomes increasingly established in later literature and art.