In that Hannibal Lecktor represents the Greek god Hermes, in this capacity one of his symbols is the caduceus. The caduceus is typically depicted as a short herald's staff entwined by two serpents in the form of a double helix, and is sometimes surmounted by wings. It is sometimes erroneously used as a symbol for medicine, especially in North America, due to confusion with the traditional medical symbol, the rod of Asclepius, which has only a single snake and no wings. Since Lecktor is a doctor, it makes sense that one of his symbols has to do with medicine; but since it is technically not the correct symbol, what is being inferred is that he is some kind of 'false doctor', i.e., one who does not truly heal: he is in one sense trying to heal Will, but ultimately he is leading him to his destruction. Of additional note is that In later Antiquity the caduceus might have provided the basis for the astrological symbol representing the planet Mercury and in Roman iconography was often depicted being carried in the left hand of Mercury, the messenger of the gods, guide of the dead and protector of merchants, shepherds, gamblers, liars and thieves.[a]
a. Wikipedia, 'Caduceus'. Web, n.d. URL = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus.
