Bowl of Hygeia

The Bowl of Hygeia, ⟨🕏, Unicode U+1F54F⟩, is one of the symbols of pharmacology, and along with the Rod of Asclepius, it is one of the most ancient and important symbols related to medicine in western countries. Hygeia was the Greek goddess of health, hygiene, cleanliness, and sanitation, and the daughter of Asclepius, whom she is often closely associated with e.g. in prayers and hymns. Asclepius’ symbol is his rod, with a snake twined around it; correspondingly, Hygeia’s symbol is a cup or chalice with a snake twined around its stem. Hygeia was also invoked, along with her father Asclepius, and Panacea in the original Hippocratic Oath.