Origins of the "Universal" Symbol for
a Prescription
The symbol above
is found on prescription pads in almost every doctor's
office and as part of many pharmacy logos. It is
generally accepted as representing the Latin word recipe,
which means take. The symbol is traceable to the
sign of Jupiter (at right), which was placed on ancient
prescriptions to appeal to that god for favorable action
of the medicine. That symbol was itself probably adapted
from the ancient Egyptian symbol known as the "Eye
of Horus" (left). A myth tells how Horus,
the falcon god, attacked his uncle to avenge his father's
murder. In the fight, Horus' eye was torn, whereupon
Thoth, patron god of physicians, miraculously healed it.
The symbol above
is found on prescription pads in almost every doctor's
office and as part of many pharmacy logos. It is
generally accepted as representing the Latin word recipe,
which means take. The symbol is traceable to the
sign of Jupiter (at right), which was placed on ancient
prescriptions to appeal to that god for favorable action
of the medicine. That symbol was itself probably adapted
from the ancient Egyptian symbol known as the "Eye
of Horus" (left). A myth tells how