CASTOR AND POLLUX (Gk. Kdarup, Kas 14r, and RoMe('toic,Potydrukr.$). Twin gods of Greece and Rome, known under the of Dioscuri (Lat., from Gk. AtOceovpot, Dioskouroi, from Attic, Dios, of Zeus + KaPpoc, kouros, youth)—i.e, children of Zeus and Leda, wife of Tyndareus, to whom the god came in the form of a swan. The Dioscuri were especially reverenced among the Thirians, and their tomb was shown at .luryelm, near Sparta. The Dorian divinities were later confused with similar twin brothers worshiped in other Greek States, and, in consequence, we find a wide variety of func tions ascribed to the Dioseuri. In general. they appear as saviors in time of need, whether in battle or at sea. In art they are usually rep resented with their horses, as hm the fine group on Monte Cavallo in Rome. They often wear an egg-shaped cap in commemoration of their birth from the egg brought forth by Leda, and are frequently crowned with stars and armed with lances. They appear as patrons of athletic sports--Castor of horsemanship and PoTha of boxing. Among their exploits were the invasion of Attica to rescue their sister Helen from Theseus; their part. in the Calydonian hunt; their participation in the Argonautie expedi tion; their abduction of the daughter of Leueip pus: and, lastly, their battle with the sons of Aphareus, in which Castor (the mortal brother) was slain by Rlas and both the Apharithr by Pollux. Pollux, who was immortal. was al lowed by Zeus to share his immortality with his brother, so that they sojourned one day in Hades and the next in Olympus. This is the version of the Odyssey, but later writers give other versions of the way in which this im mortality was shared. The astronomical writ ers identify them with the zodiacal constella tion of the Twins. (See GEmixt.) They were
greatly venerated in Rome, where it was be lieved that at the battle of Lake Regillus they fought at the head of the legions of the Common wealth. and afterwards, with incredible speed, carried to the city the news of the victory. Where they alighted, near a well in the fermium, a temple was built, and a great festival held in their honor on the ides of Quintilis, the sup posed anniversary of the battle, sacrifices being offered at the public charge. A part of the cere monies was a grand monster of the equestrian body, when all the knights, clad in purple and crowned. with olive, assembled at the Temple of Mars, outside the city, and rode in state to the forum. For centuries this pageant was one of the most splendid sights in Rome. In the days of Dionysius the cavalcade consisted of 5000 horsemen, all persons of wealth and condition.
Castor and Pollux was also the name given by sailors in classic times to an electric meteor, which, under the form of twin balls of fire, at taelles itself to the masts of ships, and which was considered to foretell fair weather. \\hen one ball of fire was seen the meteor was called Helena, and foreboded a storm. (See Shake speare, Tempest, Act i., Scene 2.) This ap pearance is entirely analogous to the brushes of light that tip every sharp metal rod during electric discharges, and which are known in modern times as Saint Elmo's lights (q.v.) or Saint Elmo's fire. It was a favorable omen when the spears of the Roman armies were tipped with these lights. The Portuguese considered them as indicative of the presence of time body of Christ, whence they were called Corposunts (corpus sane( us). Consult Tomlinson, The Thunder ;term (London, 1859).