Castor & Pollux

caster and Pollux Nationality/ burnish papistic beaver fur and Polydeuces ( Grecian), the Dioscuri, the Tyndaridae Appears In Homers Iliad, Hyginuss Fabulae source Sons of Zeus and Leda Character Overview In Hellenic and Roman mythology, beaver and Pollux ( cognize as Polydeuces to the Greeks) were play off br early(a)s who appe atomic number 18d in several prominent myths. The twin were worshipped as gods who helped shipwrecked sailors and who brought favorable winds for those who do sacrifices to them. The Romans considered Castor and Pollux the gods who watched over horses and the Roman horsemen known as equites (pronounced EK-wi-teez).There are many stories or so the t whollyy and numerous versions of those stories. According to the Greek poet Homer, Castor and Pollux were the tidingss of Tyndareus (pronounced tin-DAlR-ee-uhs) and Leda, the king and queen of S touch offa. For this reason, they are sometimes called the Tyndaridae (sons of Tyndareus). Another account iden tifies the tally as the sons of Leda and Zeus, from whom they received the name Dioscuri (sons of Zeus). stock-still some other legend says t palpebra Castor was the son of Leda and Tyndareusand therefore a human piece of music Pollux was the son of Zeusand therefore a god.This difference became significant later in their lives. All tales about the correspond chequer in portraying Castor as a skilled horse trainer and Pollux as an expert boxer. Inseparable, the brothers always acted together. In cardinal of the earliest myths about the twins, Castor and Pollux rescued their sister Helen after she had been kidnapped by Theseus (pronounced THEE-see-uhs), king of Attica. Helen would later gain fame as the queen whose abduction by Paris, a trojan horse prince, launched the Trojan War. The twins also go with Jason and the Argonauts on their trip in look of the Golden Fleece.During that expedition, Pollux demonstrated his boxing skills by killing the king of the Bebryces. When a wedge arose during the voyage, the Argonaut Orpheus prayed to the gods and played his harp. The storm instantly ceased and stars appeared on the heads of the twins. It is because of this myth that Castor and Pollux came to be recognized as the protectors of sailors. Another account concerns the death of Castor. According to one account, the twins wanted to marry their cousins Phoebe and Hilaria. The women, however, were already promised to two other cousins, Idas knave 212 peak ofArticleand Lynceus. Castor and Pollux carried the women away to Sparta, pursued by their male cousins. In the fight that followed, the twins succeeded in killing both Idas and Lynceus, nevertheless Castor was fatally wounded. St. Elmos fire is a natural phenomenon that occurs during certain stormy conditions conditions. It appears as a glow on the top of tall pointed objects, such as the masts of ships, and is often accompanied by a cracking noise. When stars appeared on the heads of Castor and Poll ux during the voyage ot the Argonauts, the twins became known as the protectors ot sailors.From hat time, sailors believed that St. Elmos fire was actually Castor and Pollux access to protect them during a storm. In another version of this story, the four men conducted a oxen raid together. Idas and Lynceus then well-tried to cheat Castor and Pollux out of their dole out of the catde. The twins obstinate to take the cattle themselves, but were caught as they started to sneak away. A fght broke out in which Castor, Idas, and Lynceus were all killed. This story also has several divergent endings. In one, Castors spirit went to hell on earth, the place of the dead, because he was a human.Pollux, who was a god, was so devastated at being separated from his brother that he offered to share his immortality (ability to live forever) with Castor, or to sink it up so that he could bond his brother in Hades. Taking pity on his son Pollux, Zeus say that the brothers would take turns dwelling in Hades and with the gods on Mount Olympus. On one day, Castor would be with the gods and Pollux would be in Hades on the next, the two would channelise places. In another ending, Castor remained in Hades, but Pollux was allowed to visit him every other day.Most versions of the myth say that Zeus dictated the brothers in the heavens as part of the configuration host of stars known as Gemini. Today the two brightest stars in the constellation Gemini are named Castor and Pollux. Castor and Pollux in Context The Romans developed a strong culta group that worships a specific god or gods above all others within a religionaround Castor future(a) a military victory by the Romans over the Latins at Lake Regillus in 499 Page 213 whirligig of ArticleBCE. When the Roman infantry failed to pay its ground in the battle, the dictator AulusPostumius decided to send in the cavalry (the horsemen of the military) to help. Castors affiliation with horsemen prompted the dictator to ma ke a pledge to build a temple to Castor in exchange for his Page 214 Top of Articlehelp, and the Romans were victorious. The Romans completed the temple in 484 bce. Pollux linked his brother in the cult frequently later, but never had quite the same(p) level of honor. The images of Castor and Pollux appear on many early Roman coins. The Romans celebrated the Theoxenia Festival each year on July 1 5th in their honor, with the Roman cavalry riding in a ceremonial parade.