Özet:

Since ancient ages, the snake has been associated with healing, medicine, wisdom, prophecy, power and eternal life in many civilizations. It has been recognized as a creature closely acquainted to therapeutically powers of nature with medicinal plants, and for this reason symbol of health has been referred to it. Serpent figures have various forms as symbols of medicine and pharmacy, such as: one or two snakes entwined about a staff, a snake wrapped around a bowl or two snakes coiled around each other. The serpent was believed to be a symbol of eternal life in the mythology and legends of ancient societies because it is revived by molting every year. Symbol of snake was first seen in Mesopotamia. The “Snake” featured in the Epic of Gilgamesh found in Sumerian cuneiform tablets that were presumably written in Mesopotamia around 2000 BC. The snake that stole the “plant of immortality” in the possession of King of Uruk, and started to rejuvenate by molting every year to become the symbol of eternal life. The serpent was also the symbol of healing and medicine in Greek mythology. Symbolized as a snake-entwined staff in sculptures and pictures; Asclepius is known as god of healing and medicine. Asclepius’ daughter Hygieia was revered as the goddess of health. The Snake of Asclepius reaching for the bowl of Hygieia is the international symbol of the pharmacy. From historical perspective, although the snake has been imaged with different forms in different regions, it became a universal symbol of medicine and pharmacy for millennia. The serpent is being used as a symbol by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other health institutes. In this essay we have attempted to follow snake from different perspectives as it evolved to become the symbol of medicine and pharmacology.

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