Symbols

The two symbols most commonly associated with pharmacy are the mortar and pestle and the ℞ (recipere) character, which is often written as "Rx" in typed text. The show globe was also used in English-speaking countries until the early 20th century. Pharmacy organizations often use other symbols, such as the Bowl of Hygieia which is often used in the Netherlands, conical measures, and caduceuses in their logos. Other symbols are common in different countries: the green Greek cross in France, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Spain, andIndia, the increasingly rare Gaper in the Netherlands, and a red stylized letter A in Germany and Austria (from Apotheke, the German word for pharmacy, from the same Greek root as the Englishword 'apothecary').

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  Bowl of Hygieia, the internationally-recognised symbol of pharmacy (the profession)
 
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  Rod of Asclepius, the internationally-recognised symbol of medicine
 
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  Green cross and Bowl of Hygieia used in Europe (with the exception of Germany and Austria) and India
 
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  Simple green cross, also used in Europe and India
 
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  Red "A" (Apotheke) sign, used in Germany
 
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  Similar red "A" sign, used in Austria
 
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  The mortar and pestle, used in the United States and Canada
 
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  A hanging show-globe, formerly used in the United States
 
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  The Gaper, formerly used in the Netherlands
 
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  The symbol used on medical prescriptions, from the Latin Recipe