Another symbol of authority is the wand in its various forms of sceptre, mace or baton. This probably had its origin in the strong man’s club, a form which is still retained in the official mace.
The sceptre has various forms of terminals, as the Dove, and the open hand, the significance of the latter being authority with power to reward or punish.
The hand was a symbol of fortitude in Egypt and of fidelity in Rome--two joined hands signifying concord.
Previous to the twelfth century the supreme being was often represented by a hand extended from the clouds, sometimes open with rays extending from the fingers in token of divine Grace.
The red hand is generally connected with some traditional tale of violence, and is so expressed on the shield of Ulster. An allusion to the tradition that the adventurer O’Neile vowed to be the first to land in Ireland, and finding his boat outstripped, cut off his hand and flung it ashore.
The Hand is also an emblem of handicraft, when generally an eye is represented in the palm, as significant of eye and hand being in harmonious accord.
The Caduceus was originally an official wand, and, adorned by the Egyptians with two serpents, became the symbol of eloquence. In Greek mythology wings were added, and it became the attribute of Hermes or Mercury. The tradition being that the god one day came upon two serpents quarrelling, whereon he threw down the staff of authority, round which the serpents twined in peaceful amity.
The symbolism of the caduceus is therefore power, associated with wisdom, the wings meaning rapidity or dispatch, and, as such, is employed as an emblem of commerce.
A variant of the wand or staff is the Thyrsus of Bacchus, which takes different forms, the early examples being a plain staff entwined with ivy leaves, though later vine leaves were substituted. It also appears in the form of a pine cone impaled on a spear, which may be in allusion to the Greek custom of mixing the juice of the pine or fir (turpentine) with the new wine to make it keep.
It has also been attributed to a strategy of war, when Bacchus made a successful advance by the ruse of concealing his followers with branches, as in the example of Shakespeare’s Macduff. The pine cone being suggestive of a night attack or that the Bacchanalian festivities took place at night.