CASTOR AND POLLUX, twin gods of Greece and Rome; known under the name of Dioscuri (from Dios or Jupiter, and Kouroi, children); children of Jupiter by Leda, who met the divinity in his form of a swan. The Dioscuri were specially reverenced among people of the Dorian race, and were said to have reigned at Sparta. They pre sided over public games, Castor being the god of equestrian exercises, and Pollux the god of boxing; but both were usually represented on fiery steeds, with spears, and egg shaped helmets crowned with stars. They were the patrons of hospitality, and their aid was especially souffht by travelers, to whom they were always gracious. Among their exploits were the invasion of Attica to rescue their sister Helen from Theseus; their part in the Calvdonian hunt; their participation in time Argonautic expedition. during which they married the daughters of Leucippus; and lastly their battle with time sans of Aphareus, in which Castor (the mortal brother) was slain by Idas. On finding him dead, Pollux, who was immortal, implored Jupiter to permit him also to die; but Homer says the dead one was permitted to live again on condition that both should, on alternate days, descend to Hades, or that they should live only on altei nate days.
Another story is that they were placed among the stars, and now, as the Twins, form one of the 12 zodiacal signs. They were greatly venerated at Rome, where it was believed that at the battle of lake Regillus they fought at the head of the legions of the commonwealth, and afterwards with incredible speed carried to the city the news of the victory. Where they alighted near a well in the forum, a temple was built, and a great festival was held in their honor during the ides of Quintilis, the supposed anni versary of the battle, where sacrifices were offered at the public charge. A part of the ceremonies was a grand muster of the equestrian body, when all the knights, clad in purple and crowned with olive, assembled at the temple of Mars, out of the city, and rode in state to the forum where stood the temple of the twins. For centuries this pageant was one of the most splendid sights in Rome. In the days of Dionysius the cavalcade consisted of 5,000 horsemen, all persons of wealth and honorable repute.