medical symbol
Unicode: 2695
Description
A Rod of Asclepius, featuring a snake coiling around a staff.
Group:
Symbols > other-symbol
Status:
unqualified
Emotion:
Represents health, medicine, healing, and medical care.
Backstory
The Rod of Asclepius is an ancient Greek symbol associated with Asclepius, the mythological god of healing and medicine. The snake shedding its skin is seen as a symbol of rebirth and renewal, while the staff represents authority. It is one of the oldest and most universally recognized symbols of medicine, often confused with the Caduceus (which has two snakes and wings and is associated with commerce, not medicine). This emoji was approved as part of Unicode 4.1 in 2005.
Usage Examples
- Indicating a doctor's visit: 'Appointment at 3 PM ⚕️'
- Referring to medical news: 'Breakthrough in cancer research ⚕️'
- Expressing care for health: 'Prioritizing my health this year ⚕️'
- Labeling medical facilities: 'St. Jude's Hospital ⚕️'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Widely recognized as a symbol for hospitals, doctors, and healthcare professions.
East Asian culture:
Also recognized as a medical symbol, though other symbols like the red cross might be more common for general emergency recognition.