Symbol of eternity, power, wisdom, medicine, healing, eloquence.
Snakes on gravestones can represent a variety of things. The Ouroboros emblem of a snake eating its own tail was a symbol of life and death in ancient Egypt. On a gravestone, a circle snake signified eternity. A snake entwined with another could symbolize strength and wisdom. Two interwoven snakes represented yin and yang in ancient China. A snake encircling a staff is symbolic of medicine and healing. Eloquence is symbolized as a winged staff with a snake wrapped around it. In current times, gravestones with a snake on a staff may be used to commemorate a physician.