Caduceus. A symbol that dates back to ancient Greek days is a symbol of the planet Mercury. Two snakes slither up a rod. The rod is to represent alchemetic power and the snakes are the polarity and dualitly. The wings represent balance. It is often confused with the Rod of Asclepius, which here in North America is what's on the side of every ambulance that goes by. It too is a greek symbol of astrology but represents Asclepius, who is a son of Zeus and is the god of medicine.
Actually Asclepius was the grandson of Zeus and the son of Apollo, the archer, and Coronis. Coronis was unfaithful to Apollo and he found out from a crow (who's feathers were white back then) who was spying on Coronis and her new lover. Apollo was so outraged that he cursed the crow so furiously that it scorched the crows feathers black. He went to kill Coronis and after he shot her with an arrow she cried "Our child." Coronis was laid out on a funeral pyre to be consumed by flames. Apollo stepped up, parted the flames and removed his child from Coronis' womb. The child was known as Asclepius meaning "to cut open". Apollo gave his son to the centaur Chiron to raise him. Chiron taught Asclepius the ways of medicine.
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