Well what a conversation starter this is. Initial thoughts roam to Asclepius. You know, son of Apollo and god of medicine. He of the staff and coiled snake, later appropriated by chemists and hospitals the world over. Yep that’s him. But why the cockerel?

Jokes about phallic symbolism aside, cockerels in ancient Greece represented new life and were sacrificed to Asclepius (the very same) by those recovered from illness. In fact, upon drinking the hemlock, Socrates’ dying words were: ‘We owe a cock to Asclepius…’ perhaps in payment for curing him of ‘life’s fitful fever’. Or perhaps a misrepresentation of what he actually said!

A talisman of recovery, or a ballsy acknowledgement of challenges overcome? Or maybe the professional seal of a doctor. Like we said, intriguing, and we all love a little intrigue in our lives.