what is the origin of the snake on the medical logo?
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The serpentine staff (with two snakes) is called a caduceus. It has Greek origins -- Hermes, the messenger of the gods, carried it as a symbol of peace. \nAncient Greeks created the caduceus as a badge of honor; ambassadors and noblemen carried a long staff entwined with garlands or ribbons to announce their presence. The garlands were later interpreted as snakes, and a pair of wings was added to denote Hermes, the winged messenger. \n\nHere's where it gets tricky. The U.S. Army medical corps adopted the caduceus as their insignia because of its similarity to the staff carried by Asclepius, the god of medicine. The staff of Asclepius is considered the "true symbol of medicine" -- it features only one snake, and no wings. It's the emblem of the American Medical Association. \n\nThe two symbols are quite similar in appearance, and both are derived from Greek mythology. The caduceus generally stands for peace, although it may also serve as a symbol of trade and communication, while the staff of Asclepius stands for healing.
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The symbol in the background means juxtaposition of love and hate/anger, or life and death. The symbol is sported as a tattoo by many HIM fans, including professional skater and "Jackass" stuntman Bam Margera
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a tatoo with your name on it
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It had to do with a Hindu snake god, Nagah.  They worshiped the cobra.
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Chinese zodiacs go by year.\n\nDiplomatic and popular, the Snake has the sensual art of seduction down. This Sign is an interesting mix of gregariousness paired with introversion, intuitive reasoning paired with savvy business skills. Snakes are considered to be lucky with money and will generally have more than enough to live life to the fullest, regardless of how important it considers money to be; this may be due to the fact that Snakes tend to be rather tight with cash. They're not stingy, they're simply more mentally than physically active. Snakes tend to hang back a bit in order to analyze a situation before jumping into it. Their charming, seductive quality actually belies a rather retiring nature; this Sign is perfectly happy to spend the whole day curled up with a good book and, thus, can be mislabeled as being lazy.\n\nThe Snake is somewhat insecure deep down and tend to be a rather jealous, possessive lover, behavior that can end up alienating loved ones. Despite these less-than-stellar tendencies, however, the Snake often proves irresistible and is a generous, loving partner.. Slightly dangerous and disarmingly smart, the Snake's philosophical and intuitive mind generally supersedes logic in favor of feelings and instinct. Snakes will rely on their own gut reactions and intuitions before turning to others for suggestions. This makes this Sign a great hand in any business venture, possessing the caution and smarts needed to get ahead.\n\nSnakes are hard workers (when they see good reason to be!) and are possessed of a keen intelligence. Snakes have incredible follow-through, once they get going, and they expect the same from others. Thus, their coworkers and employees had best stay on their toes, lest they anger the Snake and suffer its poisonous bite!\n\nIn general, of course, Snakes are generous and genteel, charming and appealing. Snakes must try to learn humility and to develop a stronger sense of self. Once Snakes realize that confidence comes from within, they will finally be comfortable in their own skin.\n\nThe most compatible match for a Snake is the Rooster or the Ox.
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The pawnbroker's symbol of three brass balls suspended from a bar can be attributed to the Medici Family of Florence, Italy. According to legend, a Medici employed by Charles the Great slew a giant using three bags of rocks. \nThe three balls symbolizing the bags of rocks then became the family crest. Since the Medicis were so successful in the financial, banking, and moneylending industries, other families also adopted the symbol. \n\n\nHere's more information...\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pawn_shop
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1.snake\n2.imagination
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The first cartoon appeared in Ben Franklin's newspaper The Pennsylvania Gazette on May 9, 1754. It appeared as part of an editorial by Franklin commenting on 'the present disunited state of the British Colonies.'\n\n    The woodcut drawing entitled 'Join or Die' pictures a divided snake in eight pieces representing as many colonial governments. The drawing was based on the popular superstition that a snake that had been cut in two would come to life if the pieces were joined before sunset. The drawing immediately caught the public's fancy and was reproduced in other newspapers.
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It wasn't a snake.\nAnd by the way, how can believing that everything came from nothing make more sense?\nDoes a machine design and build itself?\nYou need your eyes opened my friend.
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The symbol is generally thought to originate from the Latin quaestio, meaning "question," which was abbreviated to Qo. The uppercase Q was written above the lowercase o, and this mark was transformed into the modern symbol. Another hypothesis about the origin of the question mark proposes that the mark originated in the 9th century, when it appeared as a point followed by the curvy bit written slanted (similar to the tilde, although the tilde was tilted more upward to the right). The point has always indicated the end of a sentence. The curved line represented the intonation pattern of a spoken question, and may be associated with a kind of early musical notation, like neumes. \n\nit is also said the curve represents a raised eyebrow!?!?!?
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I am an Orthodox Jew and did a quick check on a few of my books.  The one thing I cannot find is any link between that kind of symbol and Judaism.  It was not used by any of the 12 tribes or any of the various Kings of Israel.\n\nIt doesn't meant here isn't any (I am no authority on this matter), but I cannot find one.  Maybe something more local to you and the area though.  Another option is that it is merely decorative- especially if it is an oriental dragon, orientalism has come and gone in fashion.  (A sudden thought- he wasn't originally Welsh was he?  It is a slim chance, I know)
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The 'nagmani' or 'snake's gem' is a myth prevalent in rural India - that when a pebble or stone accidentally gets into a king cobra's mouth and pierces its way into one of its poison glands, the snake's poison forms a thick layer around the stone and solidifies as a protective coat to prevent the stone from further damaging the snake's mouth. [The myth must have been based on how a pearl is formed within an oyster !]\nThis 'stone' was rated as having a rare gem-like quality - with allegedly miraculous healing powers. It was also supposed to bring good luck to those who owned, or wore them !\n...Several Indian folk tales, from various regions, relate how brave young men [usually princes] went in search of the snake-gems - and returned with a beautiful princess as well, for a 'bonus'. \n...But no such 'gems' are formed in reality - though even now there are con-men [and women !] who sell such fakes to simpletons, who are still willing to believe in these tall tales !
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http://f.screensavers.com/OMS/img/407/snakefangs_215.gif
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The coat of arms.\n\nIts design is based on the symbol used by the Mexicas to discover the land where they would found Tenochtitlan. Legend has it that they traveled from Aztlán, present-day Nayarit, in search of a sign from Huitzilopochtli to tell them where to settle and establish their empire. \n\nThis symbol was an "eagle perched upon a nopal, devouring a serpent". After a long journey, they finally found it in the Valley of Mexico, on an island near the edge of Lake Anáhuac. \n\nThe national coat-of-arms therefore reproduces the sign given to the Aztecs by Huitzilopochtli: the left profile of the eagle standing on its left leg upon a nopal; in its right talon and beak it holds a rattle snake, which represented the renovation of life to the ancient Mexicas. \n\nIf you look closely, you will see that the island is bordered by a ribbon with colored bands: green represents hope and victory, white symbolizes the purity of our ideals, and red if for the blood our national heroes shed. On the island, there is a nopal with red fruit or tunas, which for the Aztecs, symbolized human hearts. \n\nIf we look further down, we will see a garland (an open crown of branches or flowers); the left side bears oak branches symbolizing strength, while the right side is decorated with the laurel branches of victory.
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See the source site below for an image of the logo.
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The symbol is from the Freemasons, who don't, as a whole, worship the Devil. Most of the founding fathers were Freemasons, this isn't a conspiracy though. It stands to reason that if you were starting a rebellion you would turn to fellow members of a society that values their privacy.\n\nHow it ended up on the dollar I can't exactly remember.
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I was taught that the snake/serpent was changed when cursed by God to from then on it had to crawl on its belly and eat dust.  All of creation changed after the fall.\n\nOf course this particular serpent was Satan, but the animal he used to represent himself was cursed as well.\n\nGen 3:14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, \n       "Cursed are you above all the livestock \n       and all the wild animals! \n       You will crawl on your belly \n       and you will eat dust \n       all the days of your life.