<p>Its a <a href="http://fma.wikia.com/wiki/Flamel" rel="noreferrer">Flamel</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>The Flamel refers to the mystical and alchemical symbol depicted as a cross with a snake or serpent draped about it, as well as detached wings and a crown above it.</p>
<p>In Alchemy, the Flamel represents the <em>&quot;fixing of the volatile&quot;</em>, a vital step in the alchemical opus' process, related to the making of the mercury's elixir and of curative processes.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The Flamel is named after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Flamel" rel="noreferrer">Nicolas Flamel</a> Whom After his death developed a reputation as an alchemist. However, these legendary accounts only appeared in the seventeenth century.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&quot;Flamel was a real person, and he may have dabbled in alchemy, but his reputation as an author and immortal adept must be accepted as an invention of the seventeenth century.&quot; - Dixon, Laurinda</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-03T02:15:15.387Z
2014-05-03T02:15:15.387Z
2020-06-17T09:17:53.303Z
Dimitri mx
<p>Well as everybody on here has said, it's a flamel which is a symbol created by the alchemist Nicholas Flamel. </p>

<p>After looking into it a bit more, I learned that Flamel often used this symbol when he talked about the Elixir of Life in his books. </p>

<p>So that makes it a fitting symbol for Dante, as she thought she had discovered immortality. </p>

<p>As far as the wings and crown, I'm not sure what those represent, as those are not part of the original Flamel symbol. I'm guessing its something Dante added to it, to make it her own. But like I said, I'm not sure what it represents.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-03T22:20:43.087Z
The wings are seen in one of the images キルア posted, the crown i'd assume has something to do with how Führer Bradley is known as King Bradly, since the symbol was first seen in the Manga we could more assume that the Crown was Father's doing since Dante isn't in the Manga and it was Father who taught the people of Amestris Alchemy
Memor-X
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-03T16:40:37.057Z
2014-07-04T05:16:04.777Z
2014-07-04T05:16:04.777Z
Dude
<p>I found a bible verse similar to this in Numbers 21:8, stating</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.”</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Another interpretation is "to be pure, to be purified". I say this because in FMA, alchemy is what the world revolves around. Even in our reality, alchemy was fabled to transmute any metal into gold. Since gold is considered to be the purest of all metals, we can also transcribe that context to the purest (or purified) form of expression, ideas, self, etc.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-07T03:17:24.373Z
2015-06-07T03:28:54.947Z
2015-06-07T03:28:54.947Z
user14899
<p>It is also said to be the crucifixion of the serpent(AKA the natural man) which sort of happens to Ed as the series progresses. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-13T02:02:41.687Z
Can you provide any sources or additional information (like what the crucifixion of the serpent is, what you mean by it happening to Ed) for this?
kuwaly
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-12T20:56:02.127Z
2018-11-12T20:56:02.127Z
Matthew Teets
<p>Though I know where you were going with the Christian symbolism. The snake on the rod (also a root that the medical symbols came from because People were healed by looking at the snake on the rod) </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-12T01:05:01.257Z
2017-04-12T01:05:01.257Z
The mega maniac
<p>It's called the Flamel (yes, named after <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Flamel" rel="noreferrer">Nicolas Flamel</a>, purported to be an alchemist who sought the Philosopher's Stone).</p>

<p>It is most noticeably similar to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus" rel="noreferrer">symbol of Hermes, a god of alchemy</a>, and also the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_of_Asclepius" rel="noreferrer">Rod of Asclepius</a>, which you may recognize from ambulances as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Life" rel="noreferrer">EMS symbol</a>.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/XKs4ym.png" alt="enter image description here"> <img src="https://i.sstatic.net/pw7E2m.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p>It is not a religious symbol, nor is it ever explained to have a relevance in the <em>FMA</em> universe. However, given its real life links to alchemy and medicine, it's safe to say that the author intended to bring forth real-world alchemical symbols into her universe.</p>

<p>Further reading: <a href="http://fma.wikia.com/wiki/Flamel" rel="noreferrer"><em>FMA</em> Wiki entry on the Flamel</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-03T11:21:58.757Z
The image on the right *is* the Rod of Asclepius, the god of healing. The one on the left is the Caduceus - the symbol of Hermes. American institutions often mix them up and use the wrong one.
Eamonn
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-03T02:17:22.020Z
2014-05-03T02:17:22.020Z
Cattua
<p>In FMA, the back of Edward's coat shows this symbol:</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/8Pq48.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p>I can't figure out what it would be a reference to in-universe, because the symbology seems Judeo-Christian (a cross and what looks like it could be a serpent), and the show doesn't really have any Christian symbology in it. Is this some symbol in real life? What is it supposed to mean?</p>

<fullmetal-alchemist-series>
What does the symbol on Edward's coat mean?
# What does the symbol on Edward's coat mean?
Posted by: username_0 on 2014-05-03
In FMA, the back of Edward's coat shows this symbol:

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/8Pq48.png)

I can't figure out what it would be a reference to in-universe, because the symbology seems Judeo-Christian (a cross and what looks like it could be a serpent), and the show doesn't really have any Christian symbology in it. Is this some symbol in real life? What is it supposed to mean?
**Tags:** fullmetal-alchemist-series
---
## 6 answers
### Answer by username_7 on 2014-05-03. Score: 18 | Accepted answer
It's called the Flamel (yes, named after [Nicolas Flamel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Flamel), purported to be an alchemist who sought the Philosopher's Stone).

It is most noticeably similar to the [symbol of Hermes, a god of alchemy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus), and also the [Rod of Asclepius](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_of_Asclepius), which you may recognize from ambulances as the [EMS symbol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Life).

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/XKs4ym.png) ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/pw7E2m.png)

It is not a religious symbol, nor is it ever explained to have a relevance in the *FMA* universe. However, given its real life links to alchemy and medicine, it's safe to say that the author intended to bring forth real-world alchemical symbols into her universe.

Further reading: [*FMA* Wiki entry on the Flamel](http://fma.wikia.com/wiki/Flamel)
> **Comments:**
> **username_8** (2014-05-03): The image on the right *is* the Rod of Asclepius, the god of healing. The one on the left is the Caduceus - the symbol of Hermes. American institutions often mix them up and use the wrong one.  
---
### Answer by username_1 on 2014-05-03. Score: 6
Its a [Flamel](http://fma.wikia.com/wiki/Flamel)

> The Flamel refers to the mystical and alchemical symbol depicted as a cross with a snake or serpent draped about it, as well as detached wings and a crown above it.
>
> In Alchemy, the Flamel represents the *"fixing of the volatile"*, a vital step in the alchemical opus' process, related to the making of the mercury's elixir and of curative processes.

The Flamel is named after [Nicolas Flamel](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Flamel) Whom After his death developed a reputation as an alchemist. However, these legendary accounts only appeared in the seventeenth century.

> "Flamel was a real person, and he may have dabbled in alchemy, but his reputation as an author and immortal adept must be accepted as an invention of the seventeenth century." - Dixon, Laurinda
---
### Answer by username_2 on 2014-07-03. Score: 4
Well as everybody on here has said, it's a flamel which is a symbol created by the alchemist Nicholas Flamel.

After looking into it a bit more, I learned that Flamel often used this symbol when he talked about the Elixir of Life in his books.

So that makes it a fitting symbol for Dante, as she thought she had discovered immortality.

As far as the wings and crown, I'm not sure what those represent, as those are not part of the original Flamel symbol. I'm guessing its something Dante added to it, to make it her own. But like I said, I'm not sure what it represents.
> **Comments:**
> **username_3** (2014-07-03): The wings are seen in one of the images キルア posted, the crown i'd assume has something to do with how Führer Bradley is known as King Bradly, since the symbol was first seen in the Manga we could more assume that the Crown was Father's doing since Dante isn't in the Manga and it was Father who taught the people of Amestris Alchemy  
---
### Answer by username_4 on 2015-06-07. Score: 1
I found a bible verse similar to this in Numbers 21:8, stating

> And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.”

Another interpretation is "to be pure, to be purified". I say this because in FMA, alchemy is what the world revolves around. Even in our reality, alchemy was fabled to transmute any metal into gold. Since gold is considered to be the purest of all metals, we can also transcribe that context to the purest (or purified) form of expression, ideas, self, etc.
---
### Answer by username_5 on 2018-11-12. Score: 0
It is also said to be the crucifixion of the serpent(AKA the natural man) which sort of happens to Ed as the series progresses.
> **Comments:**
> **username_0** (2018-11-13): Can you provide any sources or additional information (like what the crucifixion of the serpent is, what you mean by it happening to Ed) for this?  
---
### Answer by username_6 on 2017-04-12. Score: 0
Though I know where you were going with the Christian symbolism. The snake on the rod (also a root that the medical symbols came from because People were healed by looking at the snake on the rod)
---
