The symbol of medicine and pharmacy, the stick and the two snakes wrapped around it, was found in the city of Memphis.

Written by Dr Nabila Abdel Fattah Saqr

Senior Researcher at the Greco-Roman Museum

The symbol of medicine and pharmacy consisting of a stick and two snakes wrapped around it is considered a creation of the ancient Egyptians four thousand years ago in the era of the Middle Kingdom, and it is wrong to attribute its origin to the Greeks and their gods.

It was named the Hippocratic staff in the book, Eyes of the Children in the Tabaqat of the Doctors, authored by Muwaffaq Al-Din Abu Al-Abbas, known as Ibn Abi Sabi’ah, who mentioned about this symbol that the shape of the laurel inspired the wreath on the head of the staff because this tree removes sadness or because it is the wreath that should permeate the medical industry and fortune-telling. Or because this tree contains powers that heal diseases, and the snake symbolises wisdom, strength, life, sexual passion, and immortality.

And that the term chemistry is derived from the ancient Egyptian word kamt, which means what is black, and the Egyptians called the fertile land (the black land). In English, it goes back to the word ph-ar-ma-ka, which was found inscribed on the base of a statue of the god Thoth, the god of science and medicine in ancient Egypt. It is found in the ruins of the city of Memphis, which means (that it grants healing). Modern science still uses many scientific words and phrases in this science. to Egyptian origins