What do the two snakes curled around the stick represent, and what's the actual name for it?
465935
THE CADUCEUS SYMBOL\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus
177235
Its a metaphorical story taken from even older texts.  If you read your Bible, it states that the serpent tempted Eve and not Satan.
811838
Long Bow (from which the 'giving the bird' symbolism of sticking 2 fingers up at an enemy is derived - give me 10 points and I'll expand on that in the comments bit for you), balister (a form of large Roman crossbow), short sword, broadsword, halberd and pike.\nLancashire won, and remains the centre of civilisation and Gods own country, Yorkshire being famous for its pudding. UK residents are reminded of this in the mnemonic for the colours of the rainbow; Richard (Red) Of(Orange) York(Yellow) Gave(Green) Battle(Blue) In(Indigo) Vain(Violet).
693194
Supposedly the Egyptian "magicians" knew of a pressure point on cobras where if they gripped them correctly the snake would become paralyzed and stiff so they could carry them around like staffs.\n\nMoses and Aaron on the other hand had supernatural power from God Almighty so that's why Aaron's wooden staff was able to consume the other snake staffs.
40817
You will see this entry in Gothic Calendar by Joseph Vargo....\n\nThis is what it means:\n"Night of the Serpent is inspired by the seductive serpent in the garden of Eden. We included it in the calendar to acknowledge and celebrate the specifically serpentine characteristics of humans. The celebration is open to interpretation. To some, it represents a night to be cunning and use stealth (or to beware one who is sly and deceitful), while to others it may signify a time to shed old habits."\n-- Quote of Christine Filipak
244305
It's a short stick with a really ornate end cap. It's about the size of a stick of Dynamite. Use is a mystery to me I suspect it is used in hand to hand fighting.
751025
I've never heard of the caduceus associated with martial arts but it's a symbol of balance associated with the God Hermes. The snakes symbolise masculine and feminine energy and the connection (weaving, crossing, fluctuation) between the two. It is also symbolic of the connecting of opposites and is often associated with  Kundalini and has alot of astrological associations as well.
497578
It means that you are afraid of betrayal. The snake is a symbol of betrayal. \n If the snakes are friendly at first and then threatening - you are afraid a friend or someone else close to you is betraying you. \n If the snakes start out being violent towards you, you are afraid of someome outside your immediate group who may hurt you. \n   As with all fears, this should not be ignored, but should be confornted.
680340
Now there's a thought that took guts to put out there.  I've always felt that way.  It just seems logical that the ancient serpent always has been society as a whole.  Any loose or even general translation refers to the great serpent as having dominion over the earth.  It would seem to me that the serpent/satan are in fact one and the same, thus, the earth/society.  Just my opinion.
601245
I think it is probably actually a mace or sceptre. These are used in lots of parliaments all around the world as a symbol of sovereign power. This dates back to the middle ages when Kings used them as a symbol of absolute power.
1023529
First off...I say no.\n\nSecond of all, perhaps there's more to consider.  \n\nAsk yourself WHY satan appeared as a serpent in the garden?  (hit...satan always tries to decieve).\n\nIn Exodus, when the children of Israel are being afflicted by the "flying serpents" moses puts a serpent on a cross (um...symbolic) and says "look to the serpent to live".\n\nThis is not doctrine of my faith, however I sincerly believe that at one point the serpent was a symbol of christ rather than of satan.  Satan appeared in a manner trying to mimick christ and therefore decieve eve.  Moses knew this symbology but it's since been forgotten.\n\nI believe the snake was originally a symbol of Christ.
803805
I actually have no idea! And I'm French. So I've checked in an encyclopedia, and it says that it's still open to debate.\n\nOne of the possible origins of the word would be "serpe volante", which in Latin means "serpent volant" (flying snake), or "sèrp-volante", which means the same in Occitan. It makes sense because the first kites represented snakes or dragons.\n\nIt could also come from "Ercum volanti", "Arcum valante" or "Cercum volante", which in Latin mean "Arc volant" (flying arch). So, what's the link with the deer? Well, the deer was (still is?) wearing a crown (not sure where they saw that)... I'm not sure I really understood what they meant. There was no pictures.
121955
I think it would represent you trying to get the bad parts of you out.  The dirty snakes and worms are comming out of your sking.  A cleansing.
618849
The zigzags really form a family of related kinds of ritual symbols I have found indications that usage and names differ in different parts of Japan.. The main ones have the names "O-shide", Go-hei, and "Harai gushi".\n\nhttp://www.britishorigami.info/academic/lister/shinto.htm this site has info all about them!
1184259
It is kind of a three-legged crow which has been a part of the mythology of many countries, including Egypt and China. In Japan it is called Yatagarasu and it is the bird of the sun goddess Amaterasu.\n\nThanks for bringing that up, I had never thought about it!
160974
"Some authorities believe this name derives from the Germanic name element that ends the names Ermalinde, Gerlinde, and others. However, they do not agree on the meaning of that element -- some citing ''tender'' or ''soft,'' others believing that it refers to the serpent as a Teutonic symbol of wisdom.\nAn alternate theory holds that it developed as a short form of the English names Belinda and Melinda. "
413988
I imagine it was a Northern Ringneck Snake.\n\nhttp://www.esf.edu/pubprog/images/snakes/nringneck.jpg