Bowl of Hygieia – Snake and Chalice Healing Symbol Wall Decal
This wall decal shows the Bowl of Hygieia, one of the oldest healing symbols in the world.
Asclepius (Aesculapius) is, according to Greek and Roman mythology, the god of medicine and healing. In his sanctuaries, sacred snakes were said to have lived. The Rod of Asclepius shows a serpent coiled around a staff. It is said that Asclepius always carried an Aesculapian snake with him on his journeys to the sick. This snake would coil around his walking staff. The staff itself symbolised the connection between heaven and earth and was believed to possess magical healing powers.
Snakes carry different meanings in various cultures. They are sometimes associated with negative qualities such as temptation or deceit, but they also represent sharp perception, intuition and wisdom. Because snakes shed their skin and appear to renew themselves, many ancient cultures attributed magic, healing power and even immortality to them. Since antiquity, the serpent staff has therefore been a symbol of physicians and healers, often placed at the entrances of medical buildings or treatment rooms.
Asclepius’ daughter is Hygieia, the goddess of health. Her name literally means health, and the word “hygiene” is derived from her name. She is usually depicted with a snake drinking from a bowl or cup, or with a cornucopia filled with fruit. The cornucopia symbolises health through good lifestyle and nourishment.
The Bowl of Hygieia shows a serpent winding around a bowl, vessel or cup. The bowl originally contained healing water. In the 1950s, this symbol became widely used in pharmacy; the bowl is sometimes interpreted as a scales pan or a container for medicinal venom. Hygieia is also considered the patron goddess of pharmacists.
At the beginning of the Hippocratic Oath, she is mentioned alongside her father:
“I swear by Apollo the Healer, by Asclepius, Hygieia and Panacea, and by all the gods and goddesses…”
The Rod of Asclepius resembles the Caduceus, the staff of Hermes/Mercury, which shows two snakes and wings—although the Caduceus is actually a symbol of trade, not medicine. Moses’ bronze serpent also bears visual similarity.
This wall decal is a symbol of healing and health, making it suitable for general practitioners, dentists, pharmacies, naturopaths, holistic and integrative health clinics, veterinary practices, hospitals, phytotherapists, health coaches, energy healers, and many more.
It is also meaningful for homeopaths, as statues of the German physician Samuel Hahnemann (1755–1843), the founder of homeopathy, often depict the Bowl of Hygieia. In some representations, a hexagram hovers above the serpent’s head.
For this design, I was inspired by a historic memorial stone dedicated to Samuel Hahnemann.
The sticker is identical in colour on both sides and can be applied to interior walls, furniture, doors, signs, windows, paper and many other smooth surfaces.
