Serpens Caput and Serpens Cauda, the head and tail of the snake:
This ancient constellation is the only one to be broken into two
separate pieces. The snake Serpens is often combined with the constellation
of Ophiuchus, the serpent-bearer. Serpens is the snake that Ophiuchus
is holding, with Serpens Caput, the snake's head on his west, and
Serpens Cauda, the snake's tail on his east. According to mythology
Serpens is the snake that gave Aesculapius (Ophiuchus) the knowledge
of how to bring the dead back to life. Since ancient times the image
of a snake entwined on a staff (the Caduceus) has been the symbol
of medicine. The constellation of Serpens Caput and Serpens Cauda
can be found around that of Ophiuchus, they can both be located
just above Scorpius, the scorpion.
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