A Little About the History of Pharmacy

How did the Bowl of Hygieia become the symbol of Pharmacy?

Hygieia is a Greek goddess, the incarnation of physical and mental health.  Temples were built to her and to her father Aesclepius, the Greek god of medicine, for both healing and worship.  Her name is where we get our word hygiene.  Hygieia is generally pictured holding a patera, or medicine bowl, with her sacred serpent peacefully coiling around her and about to eat from it.

Since ancient times, serpents have served as symbols for the soul, for deep wisdom, and for healing.  The association of snakes to wisdom and healing comes from the ancient idea that the dead went into the ground to dwell in Hades, a dream-like land which was neither good nor bad.  Snakes, as ground-dwelling creatures, had contact with the dead and might even carry the souls of ancestors returning to help you, so they could bring great wisdom.  Diseases in ancient times were often thought to be caused by evil spirits, so one way of affecting a cure would be to get a very strong good spirit to come help you.  Thus, snakes were also linked with healing.

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