Wellcome uses cookies.

Read our policy
Wellcome Collection homepage
All
Stories
Images
Catalogue
Events

Stories

  • Article

The origins and meanings of pharmacy symbols

What have snakes, unicorns and crocodiles got to do with pharmacies? The history of these modern signs goes back to the Greek gods.

  • Article

Thunderbolts and lightning

Fire in the sky has always exerted a hold on our imagination, even as early scientists unlocked the secrets of atmospheric electricity.

  • Article

Lying low for lockdown and beyond

For Liz Carr the chances of catching Covid-19 are the same as for anyone else, but as a Disabled person she's at much greater risk of not getting the treatment she needs if she falls ill.

  • Article

Written on my body

Scars mean David Jesudason has never enjoyed seeing his reflection. Recounting the stories behind the marks on his face and body, he finds the only one that symbolises hope and happiness.

All stories (19)

Images

  • Beecham's school quiz No 6 : well known signs and symbols...do you know them?.
  • A table of Christian signs, symbols and images; top centre the Virgin of Loreto. Etching.
  • Beecham's school quiz No 6 : well known signs and symbols...do you know them?.
  • Two plus signs [for HIV positive] separated by a line with two arrows pointing right [for the male symbol] representing an advertisement for HanseGay, 1995, a cultural event by Rat + Tat e.V. for gays and lesbians. Colour lithograph by Langenhan, 1995.
  • Doctrine of signatures: (above) a plant (fennel) with seed-pods resembling the crest of a bird, and (below) a bird's head. Coloured ink drawing by C. Etheridge, 1906, after G.B. Della Porta.
  • Doctrine of signatures: (above) a plant with roots resembling a crayfish, and (below) a crayfish. Coloured ink drawing by C. Etheridge, 1906, after G.B. Della Porta.
  • Doctrine of signatures: (above) a plant (arum) with seed-pods resembling the horn of a unicorn, and (below) a unicorn's head. Coloured ink drawing by C. Etheridge, 1906, after G.B. Della Porta.
  • Doctrine of signatures: (above) a plant with spots resembling those of a fish, and (below) a fish. Coloured ink drawing by C. Etheridge, 1906, after G.B. Della Porta.
  • Doctrine of signatures: (above) a plant (hound's tongue) with leaves resembling the tongue of a dog, and (below) a dog's head. Coloured ink drawing by C. Etheridge, 1906, after G.B. Della Porta.
  • Doctrine of signatures: (above) a plant with flowers resembling the human eye, and (below) a pair of eyes. Coloured ink drawing by C. Etheridge, 1906, after G.B. Della Porta.
All images (85)

Catalogue

All works (185)