Which god traded the caduceus to Hermes for the lyre?

Apollo traded the caduceus to Hermes for the lyre.

The exchange appears in the Homeric Hymn to Hermes, where the newborn Hermes invents a lyre from a tortoise shell. Apollo, god of music and prophecy, is captivated by its sound. Hermes gives him the instrument, and Apollo presents Hermes with the caduceus, the herald’s staff, as a token of friendship.

The caduceus became one of Hermes’ defining symbols. It is usually shown as a winged staff entwined by two serpents, reflecting Hermes’ role as messenger, herald, and patron of commerce. In Roman mythology, Hermes’ counterpart Mercury carries the same staff.

A common mix-up is confusing the caduceus with the rod of Asclepius, which has one serpent and is properly associated with medicine. Asclepius was Apollo’s son, but Apollo himself is the god involved in this mythic exchange.