Tattoo in the form of a caduceus symbol

Many people associate such a symbol as caduceus with medicine. It is for this reason that tattoos with this sign are not so common. However, this association is somewhat erroneous. In this article, we will talk about what such a sign means and what tattoos exist with it.

Caduceus is a symbol that has been known since ancient times. It represents a rod or, as it is also called in Greece, the staff of the messenger. This staff has wings and is entwined by two snakes that look at each other.

The exact time of the appearance of the caduceus at the moment is still not precisely established, however, it is known that it came to the ancient Roman culture from Ancient Greece, and there - from Ancient Egypt.

If you delve deeper into the study of ancient Greek mythology, you can find out that the caduceus was considered the key to the kingdom of the dead, Hades. He was perceived as something that is able to separate darkness and light, life and death. The god Hermes himself used the caduceus in order to open the gates of the other world for the souls of already dead people.

In ancient Roman mythology, there is another legend. She is associated with the god Mercury, who can be considered an analogue of Hermes. Once this god saw snakes, which fought and in a fight curled up into a whole ball, representing disorder, defeat and chaos. Mercury decided to put things in order and reconcile the serpent, in order to thereby achieve harmony. He threw his staff between the snakes. The fight ended, but the angry snakes wrapped around the wand and, meeting their gaze, turned to stone.

In the future, Mercury decided to transfer the caduceus to his son that he was the ancestor of the heralds. They went to distant countries to the enemy, carrying with them a caduceus as a sign of immunity.

Judging in general, this sign can be interpreted as a symbol of harmony and peace, inspiration and dedication, wisdom, striving for justice. The wings of the caduceus symbolize the ability to overcome any obstacles on the way to the desired, they personify the speed of the messenger of the gods. The rod itself is the personification of power, as well as a kind of axis that is a conductor between heaven and earth.

The snakes, meandering, form a double spiral, symbolizing the struggle between the polar forces, which, despite their dissimilarity to each other, together make up a harmonious and balanced combination. These snakes personify the eternal struggle between light and darkness, good and evil, sublime and base.

It is also interesting that the caduceus is also associated with such an activity as healing. Although this connection is erroneous. A similar sign began to be used as a medical symbol, which became especially widespread in the last century. The medical sign represents the rod of Aesculapius, the god who patronized healers. This rod is entwined with a snake. If you do not know all the subtleties, then these signs can be easily confused. Because of this, many mistakenly believe that the caduceus is also a medical symbol.

If we talk about a tattoo with this sign, then it is universal. It can be seen both on the bodies of girls and on the bodies of men of different ages.

There are many options for sketches of tattoos with the sign of the caduceus. The tattoo can be done both in color and in monochrome. The second color scheme is currently more in demand, but both versions will look quite interesting and bright.

In most cases, the caduceus is an independent object in the drawing. However, this may also have its own peculiarities. So, for example, the tip of the wand may differ. Most often, this part is depicted as simply rounded, but in some cases an eye is drawn there as a symbol of providence, a skull, which symbolizes life and death, the sun or a torch, symbolizing light and darkness, a heart or the image of one of the deities - Mercury or Hermes.

Much less often, such drawings are supplemented with one or another floristic element. As a rule, this is typical for female tattoos, because flowers and other plant details emphasize the femininity and tenderness of the girl.

Inscriptions on such tattoos may also be present. Their content depends only on the wishes of the person who will wear this image on his body.

There are many styles in which a caduceus tattoo can be done. The most difficult of these is realism. This style direction is considered to be very suitable for such a tattoo. Drawings made in this style look bright and naturalistic, which delights many. However, due to the increased level of complexity, not all tattoo artists take on such drawings.

Sketchy variants of such a tattoo are also very common. Typically, such drawings are not large. On the contrary, they are very compact, which is why many prefer them.

A style like old school is also appropriate.

Dotwork is a relatively new style direction, also suitable for tattoos with such an image. This style gained its popularity only in the 90s, and therefore it is not as popular as everyone else.Nevertheless, drawings in this style look very interesting and original, which is achieved due to a non-standard method of application. Such a pattern is applied using a large number of points that are located at a certain distance from each other.

A tattoo with a caduceus sign can be located on any part of the body - this has no effect on its meaning. Human preferences, the size of the tattoo and its shape play an important role here.

So, tattoos with an oblong shape are most often located in the shoulder, forearm, thigh, lower leg, and in some cases, the back. The latter option is suitable mainly for large-scale drawings, but there are certain exceptions. But rounded tattoos, the shape of which is achieved due to a variety of compositional elements, are most often located in the area of ​​the shoulder blade or chest.