Castor and Pollux - Provenance, Mythology

Two heroes of classical mythology, known as the Dioscuri, usually pictured as twin brothers on horseback. They were children of Leda, at least one being fathered by Zeus. After death they became divine beings, and were turned into the constellation Gemini. They appear in the form of St Elmo's Fire to help mariners, and were an important early cult at Rome.

The Gemini or Gemini twins, known in Roman mythology as Castor and Pollux and in Greek as Kastor and Polydeuces, are the twin sons of Leda and the brothers of Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra.

Provenance

They are called the Dioscuri (dios kouroi), meaning the "Sons of Zeus", although the story of their parentage is confused, as it is for their sisters Helen and Clytemnestra. Castor and Polydeuces are sometimes both mortal, sometimes both divine.

As a further complication, the Zeus-as-swan myth is sometimes associated with the goddess Nemesis. However, this story is usually associated with Helen, not with Castor and Polydeuces.

Mythology

Polydeuces was a powerful boxer, and Castor a great horseman. In Roman mythology, Castor was venerated much more often than Polydeuces.

When Theseus and Pirithous kidnapped their sister Helen and carried her off to Aphidnae, the twins rescued her and counter-abducted Theseus' mother, Aethra.

When Astydameia, queen of Iolcus, offended Peleus, the twins assisted him in ravaging her country.

Castor and Polydeuces abducted and married Phoebe and Hilaeira, the daughters of Leucippus. In return, Idas and Lynceus, nephews of Leucippus (or rival suitors), killed Castor. Polydeuces was granted immortality by Zeus, and further persuaded Zeus to share his gift with Castor. (In some accounts, only Polydeuces was fathered by Zeus, while Leda and her husband Tyndareus conceived Castor. This explains why only Polydeuces was granted immortality.) Accordingly, the two spend alternate days as gods on Olympus and as deceased mortals in Hades.

Their festival was on July 15. They had their own temple in the Roman Forum: see Temple of Castor and Pollux.

Compare with Amphion and Zethus of Thebes, with Romulus and Remus of Rome, the Alcis of Germanic Mythology and with the Asvins of Vedic Mythology.

The constellation Gemini is said to represent these twins, and its brightest stars Castor and Pollux (α and β Geminorum) are named for them.