What does Hermes staff represent?

Hermes' staff, known as the caduceus, represents commerce, negotiation, and balance. Traditionally depicted as a winged staff entwined by two serpents, it symbolizes the harmony between opposites, such as trade and diplomacy. While often confused with the medical symbol of the Rod of Asclepius, the caduceus is more closely associated with Hermes as the messenger of the gods and the protector of merchants and travelers.