Signs and Signals

[Lothia]

Ave Civitas,

Again, I find myself at a loss and I come begging.

I read somewhere (now I don't remember) that the Caduceus was, at one time, a signal (carried symbol) of a "ceasefire" for a parley.

I believe that. However I have a couple related questions.

a. When did the Caduceus stop being a symbol for safe conduct?

b. What other symbols and signs were used to signal a "ceasefire".

Thanks. You guys are a well of information.

Tom

[Sean Manning]

I think cadeucus is a Latinization of the Greek κηρύκειον "herald's wand" (literally "herald's little thing"). Heralds were sancrosanct in classical Greek warfare, and they were identified by the rods they carried ... you can read about them in Thucydides. I don't know enough about Roman warfare to know what signs they used to indicate that someone was peaceful.

Since the cadeucus has become a symbol of the medical profession, and doctors still have some protections, I guess you could say it still is a protective symbol!

[M. Demetrius]

It only has one snake, but in Numbers, there is an account of a bronze snake being put on a pole, during the Exodus. What that looked like, we don't really know.