Castor and Pollux (redirected from Castor and Polydeuces)

Castor and Pollux (pŏl`əks), in classical mythology, twin heroes called the Dioscuri; Castor was the son of Leda and Tyndareus, Pollux the son of Leda and Zeus. They were brothers to Helen and Clytemnestra. Castor excelled as a horseman and Pollux as a boxer. They were great warriors and were noted for their devotion to each other. In one version of the legend, after Castor was killed by Lynceus, Pollux, in accordance with the classical tradition that one of every set of twins is the son of a god and thus immortal, begged Zeus to allow his brother to share his immortality with him. Zeus arranged for the twins to divide their time evenly between Hades and Heaven, and in their honor he created the constellation Gemini. According to another legend, Castor was killed by Idas. The Dioscuri were widely regarded as patrons of mariners and were responsible for Saint Elmo's fire. They were especially honored by the Romans, on whose side they were said to have appeared miraculously during the battle of Lake Regillus.

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Dioscuri

 or Castor and Pollux

(from Greek dioskouroi, “sons of Zeus”) Twin gods of ancient Greece and Rome. They aided shipwrecked sailors and accepted sacrifices for favorable winds. Castor was mortal and Pollux was immortal; when Castor was killed, Pollux disowned his immortality to join his brother. Zeus later changed them into the constellation Gemini. They were believed to have aided the Romans in an important battle early in their history, and a temple in their honour was built in the Roman Forum.

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Castor and Pollux

twin brothers who lived and died together. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 52]

See : Friendship

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Castor and Pollux

sons of Leda and Zeus, placed in heaven as constellation Gemini. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 52]

See : Twins

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Castor and Pollux

(also known as the Dioscuri), in ancient Greek mythology, the sons of Leda and Zeus, twin heroes. Castor was mortal, and Pollux was immortal. According to the myths, they performed a number of feats, for example, journeying to Attica to free their sister Helen, abducted by Theseus, and participating in the Argonautic expedition. Castor was known for his ability to manage horses and Pollux as a boxer. In origin they were local Spartan deities, honored as patrons of the Spartan state.