Aesculapius\' symbol and the military hospital

[Quintus Aurelius Lepidus]

Hi

I have read that some stone military hospitals had signs with the Aesclupius' snake on them. Some sort of sign like the red cross in modern military hospitals.


[attachment=2553]snake1.jpg[/attachment]


Are there any pics on this which can confirm this?

Is there any evidence that wooden and marching camps had this sign too?

Richard Gabriel also had an interesting theory stating that medical personnel (like the capsarius) wore armbands with this symbol on it. Does anybody know more about this pls?

tnx!

[M. Demetrius]

I wonder if Moses' "serpent on the pole" has any connection to this?
Numbers 21:8

[D B Campbell]

I have read that some stone military hospitals had signs with the Aesclupius' snake on them. Some sort of sign like the red cross in modern military hospitals.

Offhand, I can't think of any evidence for this.

Of course, as a medical zone, the legionary hospital was sacred to Aesculapius, and those working there would have sought his protection.

There is a rather nice statue base from the legionary fortress at Novae (Svishtov, Bulgaria) which reads:

[A]esculapium | ex donis arg(enteum) | p(ondo) V unc(iis) V | C(aius) Mansuanius | Severus leg(atus) Aug(usti) f(aciendum) c(uravit)
"Gaius Mansuanius Severus, legate of Augustus, oversaw the erection of a silver Aesculapius weighing 5 pounds 5 ounces (paid for) out of the offerings"
[attachment=2554]AE1998-1131_Novae.jpg[/attachment]

Richard Gabriel also had an interesting theory stating that medical personnel (like the capsarius) wore armbands with this symbol on it.

If he has any evidence for this, I'd like to see it.

[Martin Moser]

I have read 30+ books and articles on Roman medical history and have not once come across any mention of either. There are depictions of the snake of course, e.g. on sliding lid medical containers, but the only thing I have read about possibly signifying a doctor's house is a building in Pompeii where reportedly a pair of cupping vessels was painted next to the door. Wristbands and rings in the form of a snake I have never read about as being associated with medical personnel.