I believe it originated from the old testimate in Numbers 21.9
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Where did the medical symbol of a snake on a poll come from?
The medical symbol of a snake coiled around a pole is called the Rod of Asclepius, and it has its origins in ancient Greek mythology. Asclepius was the Greek god of healing and medicine, and the son of Apollo, the god of medicine and prophecy.
According to legend, Asclepius learned the art of healing from the centaur Chiron and became so skilled that he was able to bring the dead back to life. This power angered the gods, who feared that Asclepius would upset the natural order of things, and so they struck him down with a thunderbolt.
After his death, Asclepius was deified and worshipped as the god of healing. The Rod of Asclepius became his symbol, representing his power to heal and restore life. The symbol features a snake coiled around a staff or pole, which is said to represent the healing power of the snake, as snakes were often associated with healing and regeneration in ancient mythology.
Today, the Rod of Asclepius is still used as a symbol of medicine and healing, and it is often seen on medical uniforms, equipment, and in other medical contexts.
What about numbers 21.9?
I'm sorry, but I'm not sure what you are referring to with the numbers 21.9. Can you please provide more context or information about what you are asking? This will help me provide you with a more accurate and helpful response.
The Bible.
If you are referring to the Bible, I'm afraid I still don't have enough context to understand your question. The Bible is a collection of religious texts that contain teachings, history, poetry, and prophesies, among other things. It consists of two main sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament contains 39 books and is primarily concerned with the history and teachings of the Jewish people, while the New Testament contains 27 books and focuses on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the early Christian church.
If you have a specific question about a particular verse or passage in the Bible, I would be happy to try to help you find an answer.
Numbers in the KJV snake and the poll
If you are asking for the specific reference to the snake and the pole in the King James Version of the Bible, it can be found in the book of Numbers, chapter 21, verses 8-9. Here is the passage from the KJV:
"And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived."
This story is about the Israelites, who were wandering in the desert after leaving Egypt. They had been complaining and speaking against God, and as a result, God sent venomous snakes among them, which bit many of the people and caused them to die. When the people repented and asked for God's mercy, He instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole. Anyone who had been bitten by a snake could look at the bronze serpent and be healed. This story is often seen as a symbol of the power of faith and the mercy of God.
How doe it relate to Asclepius
While the story of the snake and the pole in the Bible and the symbol of the Rod of Asclepius share some similarities, they have different origins and meanings.
The Rod of Asclepius is the symbol of the Greek god of healing and medicine, Asclepius. It features a snake coiled around a staff or pole, which is said to represent the healing power of the snake, as snakes were often associated with healing and regeneration in ancient mythology.
In the Bible, the story of the snake and the pole is about the Israelites who were afflicted with venomous snake bites as a punishment for their disobedience to God. To save them from death, God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole. Anyone who had been bitten by a snake could look at the bronze serpent and be healed. This story is often seen as a symbol of the power of faith and the mercy of God.
While there may be some similarity in the use of a serpent on a pole as a symbol of healing, the origins, contexts, and meanings of the two symbols are distinct and separate.
I don't agree.
I apologize if my previous answer did not fully address your question or if you disagree with my response. Could you please clarify what you disagree with or provide further context so that I can better understand your perspective and provide a more accurate answer?
I believe the Greeks got the symbol from the jews
It's possible that the symbol of the Rod of Asclepius was influenced by the story of the serpent and the pole in the Bible. The Greeks were known to have been influenced by the ideas and beliefs of other cultures, including those of the Jews.
However, it's also worth noting that snakes and serpents have been used as symbols of healing and medicine in many cultures throughout history, including in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. So while there may be a connection between the two symbols, it's difficult to say with certainty that one directly influenced the other.
Ultimately, the origin and meaning of the symbol of the Rod of Asclepius remains a matter of historical debate and interpretation.
When was the bible translated from jewish to greek
The Bible was translated from Hebrew to Greek in the 3rd century BCE, a translation known as the Septuagint. The Septuagint was produced in Alexandria, Egypt, which was home to a large Jewish community at the time. The translation was made to provide Greek-speaking Jews with access to the Hebrew Scriptures.
The Septuagint became the most widely used version of the Hebrew Scriptures in the early Christian church, and many of the New Testament writers quoted from it. The Septuagint also had a significant influence on early Christian theology and the development of the Christian Bible.
So was Moses before the Greeks in history?
Yes, Moses is generally believed to have lived long before the Greeks. According to the Bible, Moses lived during the 2nd millennium BCE, during a time when the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt. He was a key figure in leading the Israelites out of slavery and towards the Promised Land, as recounted in the book of Exodus.
In contrast, the Greek civilization did not emerge until the 8th century BCE, several centuries after the time of Moses. The Greeks made significant contributions to philosophy, mathematics, science, and other fields, but their civilization emerged long after many of the major events in the Old Testament.
So the snake and the poll first surfaced during Moses in Numbers?
Yes, the story of the snake and the pole first appears in the book of Numbers in the Bible, which is believed to have been written during the 5th century BCE but describes events that took place much earlier, around the 2nd millennium BCE. According to the Bible, the story takes place during the time when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness after leaving Egypt.
The story of the snake and the pole in Numbers describes how God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole. Anyone who had been bitten by a snake could look at the bronze serpent and be healed. This story is often seen as a symbol of the power of faith and the mercy of God. The story predates the Greek civilization, and it is not known whether the Greeks were directly influenced by this story in their use of the serpent and staff as a symbol of healing.
So where did the greeks get the idea
The Greeks were known to have been influenced by the ideas and beliefs of other cultures, including those of the Egyptians, Persians, and Babylonians, among others. These cultures had their own traditions and beliefs regarding snakes and serpents as symbols of healing and regeneration.
It's possible that the Greeks were influenced by these earlier traditions in their use of the serpent and staff as a symbol of healing. Additionally, the Greeks had their own myths and legends involving snakes and serpent-like creatures, such as the god of medicine and healing, Asclepius, who was often depicted holding a staff with a serpent wrapped around it.
It's difficult to say with certainty where the Greeks got the idea for the serpent and staff symbol, as it likely evolved over time through a combination of cultural influences and mythological traditions.
Good conversation thanks
You're welcome! I'm glad to have been able to assist you. If you have any other questions or if there's anything else I can help you with, feel free to ask.
So when in any culture did the snake and pole originate
The use of snakes and poles or staffs as symbols of healing and medicine dates back to ancient times and can be found in many cultures around the world.
In ancient Egypt, for example, the goddess Wadjet was often depicted as a serpent coiled around a staff, representing her protective and healing powers. The staff with a snake coiled around it was also a symbol of the god of wisdom and healing, Thoth.
Similarly, in Mesopotamian culture, the god of healing, Ningishzida, was often depicted with a serpent wrapped around a staff, symbolizing the power of healing and regeneration.
In Greek mythology, the god of medicine and healing, Asclepius, was often depicted holding a staff with a serpent wrapped around it, a symbol that eventually became associated with medicine in general.
So, while the exact origins of the snake and staff symbol are unclear, it has been used as a symbol of healing and medicine in many different cultures throughout history.
Who first?
It's difficult to determine which culture first used the snake and staff symbol for healing, as the use of serpents and staffs in this way dates back to ancient times and can be found in many different cultures around the world.
However, some of the earliest depictions of the snake and staff symbol come from ancient Egypt, where the goddess Wadjet was often depicted as a serpent coiled around a staff, representing her protective and healing powers. This dates back to the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3150 BCE) and is one of the earliest known examples of the snake and staff symbol being used in a healing context.
So while it's not possible to say for certain which culture first used the snake and staff symbol for healing, the use of this symbol dates back to ancient times and can be found in many different cultures throughout history.
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