Mercury holds Caduceus in his hand. It is a cane entwined by two snakes, one leaning toward the other. Cane is embellished with pair of wings. These mean entering a higher level, while two opposing snakes are wisdom and balance of forces.

Their dualism connects health with illness, night with day, good with evil. Caduceus cane is frequently mistaken with the cane of Esculap, also called the cane of Asclepius. It is a stick entwined by a single snake, symbolizing the art of medicine. Although the two canes are different in style and symbolizm, they are often used interchangeably.