A while back last year, while clicking through a multitude of random things on Wikipedia, I came upon the article for Caduceus. For those not aware, the Caduceus looks like this:


For most Americans, unfortunately, this symbol is synonymous with medicine or medical pratice of any kind.

Now, the reason I say "unfortunately" is because if you read through that article you might find something quite surprising. I found it surprising, anyway, and ever since that day I've made it something I love to relay to other people.

You ready for this? Ok here goes...

The meaning of the Caduceus, historically, has NOTHING to do with medicine. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
A brief mythology lesson shows that the Caduceus is the wand or staff of Hermes, who was "the messenger of the gods, guide of the dead and protector of merchants, gamblers, liars and thieves." (Wikipedia)

In short, around the mid-to-late 19th Century, the Caduceus started becoming used as (and later became synonymous with) the symbol for medicine -- it was a mistake which was used INSTEAD OF the Rod of Asclepius, which is a staff with a single snake wrapped around it. The American Medical Association used the Caduceus for a time, too, but it later changed to the Rod in 1910.

By that time, it seems, the damage was already done. The general consciousness of this country forever has the Caduceus embedded in its head for all time. Next time you're driving around town -- take a look at all the signs and ads for medical practices of any kind. 9 times out of 10 they will have the Caduceus in some form or another hanging up somewhere.

I just started playing Bioshock recently. And of course, this symbol is EVERYWHERE. All the medicine/first aid kids have the symbol on it. The medical area even has a giant metal Cadeceus sculpture hanging on the wall:


Since the time period of the game is supposed to be during the 1960's, (way past the time the AMA corrected its mistake) you would think this idea would have been something the creators of Rapture would have known about, but it looks like 2K Games made that huge oversight. Intentional or not.

I know it's a very petty and picky thing to complain about, and it definitely does not detract from anything else in the game. I am, quite literally, enjoying the lviing hell out of this game. But on the downside, 2K games have just added another notch to propagating this sad, unfortunate fallacy in the American consciousness and I felt it worthy to share with you all.