Dioscuri - Revision history

Irlandos: /* Mortality and immortality */

2010-03-11T11:59:51Z

Mortality and immortality

Irlandos at 09:37, August 22, 2007

2007-08-22T09:37:56Z

Irlandos: New page: In Greek mythology the '''Dioskouroi''' (''Διόσκουροι''), '''Kastor''' and '''Polydeuces''' (''Κάστωρ'' και ''Πολυδεύκης''), in Roman mythology the '''Ge...

2007-08-22T09:35:17Z

New page: In Greek mythology the '''Dioskouroi''' (''Διόσκουροι''), '''Kastor''' and '''Polydeuces''' (''Κάστωρ'' και ''Πολυδεύκης''), in Roman mythology the '''Ge...

New page

In [[Greek mythology]] the '''Dioskouroi''' (''Διόσκουροι''), '''Kastor''' and '''Polydeuces''' (''Κάστωρ'' και ''Πολυδεύκης''), in Roman mythology the '''Gemini''' (Latin, "''twins''") or '''Castores''', '''Castor''' and '''Pollux''' are the twin sons of [[Leda]] and the brothers of [[Helen]] of [[Troy]] and [[Clytemnestra]]. According to Liddell and Scott's ''Lexicon'', ''kastor'' is Greek for "he who excels", and ''poludeukeis'' means "very sweet".

== Origins ==

They are called the '''Dioscuri''' (''dios kouroi''), meaning the "youths of Zeus". Their Vedic parallels in the effulgent brother horsemen Asvin sets them firmly in the Indo-European tradition (Burkert 1985:212). Their archaic and inexplicable name in Spartan inscriptions ''Tindaridai'' or in literature ''Tyndaridai'' occasioned an explanatory myth of a [[Tyndareus]] (Burkert 1985:212), occasioning incompatible accounts of their parentage, as that for their sisters Helen and Clytemnestra. The better known story is that [[Zeus]] disguised himself as a swan and seduced [[Leda]]. Thus Leda's children are frequently said to have hatched from two eggs that she then produced. The Dioscuri can be recognized in vase-paintings by the skull-cap they wear, the ''pilos'', which was already explained in Antiquity as the remnants of the egg from which they hatched.<ref>Scholiast on ''Lycophron, noted by Karl Kerenyi, 1959. ''The Heroes of the Greeks'' p.107 note 584.</ref> Tyndareus, Leda's mortal husband, is then father or foster-father to the children.<ref>The familiar theme in Greek mythology of the mixed seed of a mortal and an immortal father is played out in various ways: compare [[Theseus]].</ref> Whether the children are thus mortal and which half-immortal is not consistent among accounts, nor is whether the twins hatched together from one egg. In some accounts, only Polydeuces was fathered by Zeus, while Leda and her husband [[Tyndareus]] conceived Castor. This explains why they were granted an alternate immortality. It is a common belief that one would live among the gods, while the other was among the dead. They do make an appearance together in the play, ''Helen and Electra''.

Castor and Polydeuces are sometimes both mortal, sometimes both divine. One consistent point is that if only one of them is immortal, it is Polydeuces. In Homer's [[Iliad]], Helen looks down from the walls of Troy and wonders why she does not see her brothers among the Achaeans. The narrator remarks that they are both already dead and buried back in their homeland of Lacedaemon, thus suggesting that at least in some early traditions, both were mortal. Their death and shared immortality offered by Zeus was material of the lost ''[[Cypria]]'' in the Epic cycle.

As a further complication, the Zeus-as-swan myth is sometimes associated with the goddess [[Nemesis]]. In this tradition, it was Nemesis who was seduced and who laid the egg, but the egg was then found by or given to Leda. However, this story is usually associated with Helen, ordained by Zeus to cause the Trojan War, and not with Castor and Polydeuces.

==Connections with Sparta==
The Dioscuri and their sisters grew up in [[Sparta]], in the household of [[Tyndareus]] (see above). Their connection there was very ancient: a uniquely Spartan aniconic representation of the Tyndaridai was as two upright posts joined by a cross-bar.<ref>Burkert 1985; Kerenyi 1959:107)</ref> Sparta's unique dual kingship reflects the divine influence of the Dioscuri. When the Spartan army marches to war, one king remains behind at home, accompanied by one of the Twins. "In this way the real political order is secured in the realm of the Gods" (Burkert 1985:212).

Their ''heroon'' or grave-shrine was at [[Therapne]] across the [[Eurotas]] from Sparta.

==Dioscuri as adventurers==
They accompanied [[Jason]] on the ''[[Argo]]''; during the voyage, Polydeuces killed King [[Amycus]] in a boxing match.

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

==Dioscuri as saviours==
When [[Theseus]] and [[Pirithous]] kidnapped their sister Helen and carried her off to [[Aphidnae]], the twins rescued her and counter-abducted Theseus' mother, [[Aethra]]. The mounted horsemen who rode out to save their abducted sister Helen from [[Theseus]] could be expected to show up to succour their votaries, as when the Locrians of [[Magna Graecia]] attributed their success at a legendary battle on the banks of the Sagras to the intervention of the Twins.

==Dioscuri in the service of the Goddess==
The image of the twins attending a goddess are widespread<ref>Kerenyi 1959 draws attention espercially to the rock carvings in the town of Akrai, Sicily (1959:111).</ref> and link the Dioscuri with the male societies of initiates under the aegis of the [[Cybele|Anatolian Great Goddess]]<ref>Burkert 1985:212, who notes F. Chapouthier, ''Les Dioscures au service d'une déesse'', 1935.</ref> and the great gods of [[Samothrace]]. The Dioscuri are the inventors of war dances, which characterize the [[Kuretes]].

==Mortality and immortality==
Castor and Polydeuces abducted the ''Leucippides'' ("white horses") [[Phoebe]] and [[Hilaeira]],<ref>The reader will immediately recognize in [[Phoebe]] ("the pure") an epithet of the moon, [[Selene]]; her twin's name Hilaeira ("the serene") is also a lunar attribute, their names "appropriate selectively to the new and the full moon" (Kerenyi 1959:109).</ref> the daughters of [[Leucippus (mythology)]]. When they encountered their analogous twin brothers of [[Thebes]], [[Idas|Idas]] and [[Lynceus (Argonaut) | "lynx-eyed" Lynceus]], bound for revenge, Castor, the mortal brother, fell, and Polydeuces, the immortal twin, survived, yet they were not separated. Polydeuces persuaded Zeus to share his gift with Castor. Accordingly, the two spend alternate days as gods on [[Mount Olympus (Mountain)|Olympus]], worthy of [[Holocaust (sacrifice)|burnt sacrifice]], and as deceased mortals in [[Hades]], whose spirits must be propitiated by [[libation]]s.

The lost ''[[Cypria]]'' explained the terms of their joint immortality as a gift of Zeus. In ''[[Odyssey]]'', Homer renders the paradox:
:''both buried now in the live-giving earth though still alive.''
:''Even under the earth Zeus grants them that distinction:''
:''one day alive, the next day dead, each twin by turns''
:''they both hold honours equal to the gods"''
:::(Robert Fagles' translation)

As emblems of immortality and death that were no longer polar opposites, it is not surprising to hear that the Dioscuri, like [[Heracles]] were said to have been initiated at [[Eleusinian mysteries|Eleusis]].<ref>In the oration of the Athenian peace emissary sent to Sparta in 371, according to [[Xenophon]] (''Hellenica'' VI), it was asserted that "these three heroes were the first strangers upon whom this gift was bestowed." ([[Karl Kerenyi]], 1967. ''Eleusis: Archetypal Image of Mother and Daughter'' (Princeton: Bollingen), p. 122.</ref>

==Roman Castor and Pollux==
As early as 484 BC, a temple to the '''''Castores''''' was erected in the Roman Forum in gratitude for their intervention in battle: the Temple of Castor and Pollux. Their festival was celebrated on [[July 15]].

Following tradition as old as Homer,<ref>"Castor, the breaker of horses, and Polydeuces the hardy boxer" (''[[Odyssey]]'' XI.300</ref> Pollux was accounted a powerful boxer, and Castor a great horseman. In Roman mythology, Castor was venerated much more often than Pollux, to the extent that the pair became known as the ''Castores''.

For other examples of the mytheme of the Unequal Twins, compare [[Amphion and Zethus]] of [[Thebes]] and Romulus and Remus of Rome. Compare also the Alcis of Germanic Mythology with the Asvins of Vedic mythology, suggesting an Indo-European origin for the myth of the divine twins.

==In astronomy==

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

==Notes==
<references />

==References==

*[http://www.arsdisputandi.org/index.html?http://www.arsdisputandi.org/publish/articles/000063/index.html Ringleben, Joachim, "An Interpretation of the 10th Nemean Ode", ''Ars Disputandi'']. Translated by Douglas Hedley and Russell Manning. [[Pindar]]'s themes of the unequal brothers and faithfulness and salvation, with the Christian parallels in the dual nature of Christ.
*Burkert, Walter, 1985. ''Greek Religion'' (Cambridge: Harvard University Press), pp 212-13
*Kerenyi, Karl, 1959. ''The Heroes of the Greeks'' (Thames and Hundson), pp 105-112 ''et passim''
*[[Pindar]], ''Tenth Nemean Ode''

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Argonauts]]
[[Category:Greek gods]]

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 ==Mortality and immortality==
-Castor and Polydeuces abducted the ''Leucippides'' ("white horses") [[Phoebe]] and [[Hilaeira]],<ref>The reader will immediately recognize in [[Phoebe]] ("the pure") an epithet of the moon, [[Selene]]; her twin's name Hilaeira ("the serene") is also a lunar attribute, their names "appropriate selectively to the new and the full moon" (Kerenyi 1959:109).</ref> the daughters of [[Leucippus (mythology)]].  When they encountered their analogous twin brothers of [[Thebes]], [[Idas|Idas]] and [[Lynceus (Argonaut) | "lynx-eyed" Lynceus]], bound for revenge, Castor, the mortal brother, fell, and Polydeuces, the immortal twin, survived, yet they were not separated. Polydeuces persuaded Zeus to share his gift with Castor. Accordingly, the two spend alternate days as gods on [[Mount Olympus (Mountain)|Olympus]], worthy of burnt sacrifice, and as deceased mortals in [[Hades]], whose spirits must be propitiated by libations.
+Castor and Polydeuces abducted the ''Leucippides'' ("white horses") [[Phoebe]] and [[Hilaeira]],<ref>The reader will immediately recognize in [[Phoebe]] ("the pure") an epithet of the moon, [[Selene]]; her twin's name Hilaeira ("the serene") is also a lunar attribute, their names "appropriate selectively to the new and the full moon" (Kerenyi 1959:109).</ref> the daughters of [[Leucippus (mythology)]].  When they encountered their analogous twin brothers of [[Thebes]], [[Idas]] and [[Lynceus (Argonaut) | "lynx-eyed" Lynceus]], bound for revenge, Castor, the mortal brother, fell, and Polydeuces, the immortal twin, survived, yet they were not separated. Polydeuces persuaded Zeus to share his gift with Castor. Accordingly, the two spend alternate days as gods on [[Mount Olympus]], worthy of burnt sacrifice, and as deceased mortals in [[Hades]], whose spirits must be propitiated by libations.
 The lost ''[[Cypria]]'' explained the terms of their joint immortality as a gift of Zeus. In ''[[Odyssey]]'', Homer renders the paradox:

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 ==Mortality and immortality==
-Castor and Polydeuces abducted the ''Leucippides'' ("white horses") [[Phoebe]] and [[Hilaeira]],<ref>The reader will immediately recognize in [[Phoebe]] ("the pure") an epithet of the moon, [[Selene]]; her twin's name Hilaeira ("the serene") is also a lunar attribute, their names "appropriate selectively to the new and the full moon" (Kerenyi 1959:109).</ref> the daughters of [[Leucippus (mythology)]].  When they encountered their analogous twin brothers of [[Thebes]], [[Idas|Idas]] and [[Lynceus (Argonaut) | "lynx-eyed" Lynceus]], bound for revenge, Castor, the mortal brother, fell, and Polydeuces, the immortal twin, survived, yet they were not separated. Polydeuces persuaded Zeus to share his gift with Castor. Accordingly, the two spend alternate days as gods on [[Mount Olympus (Mountain)|Olympus]], worthy of [[Holocaust (sacrifice)|burnt sacrifice]], and as deceased mortals in [[Hades]], whose spirits must be propitiated by [[libation]]s.
+Castor and Polydeuces abducted the ''Leucippides'' ("white horses") [[Phoebe]] and [[Hilaeira]],<ref>The reader will immediately recognize in [[Phoebe]] ("the pure") an epithet of the moon, [[Selene]]; her twin's name Hilaeira ("the serene") is also a lunar attribute, their names "appropriate selectively to the new and the full moon" (Kerenyi 1959:109).</ref> the daughters of [[Leucippus (mythology)]].  When they encountered their analogous twin brothers of [[Thebes]], [[Idas|Idas]] and [[Lynceus (Argonaut) | "lynx-eyed" Lynceus]], bound for revenge, Castor, the mortal brother, fell, and Polydeuces, the immortal twin, survived, yet they were not separated. Polydeuces persuaded Zeus to share his gift with Castor. Accordingly, the two spend alternate days as gods on [[Mount Olympus (Mountain)|Olympus]], worthy of burnt sacrifice, and as deceased mortals in [[Hades]], whose spirits must be propitiated by libations.
 The lost ''[[Cypria]]'' explained the terms of their joint immortality as a gift of Zeus. In ''[[Odyssey]]'', Homer renders the paradox:
@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 :::(Robert Fagles' translation)
-As emblems of immortality and death that were no longer polar opposites, it is not surprising to hear that the Dioscuri, like [[Heracles]] were said to have been initiated at [[Eleusinian mysteries|Eleusis]].<ref>In the oration of the Athenian peace emissary sent to Sparta in 371, according to [[Xenophon]] (''Hellenica'' VI), it was asserted that "these three heroes were the first strangers upon whom this gift was bestowed." ([[Karl Kerenyi]], 1967. ''Eleusis: Archetypal Image of Mother and Daughter'' (Princeton: Bollingen), p. 122.</ref>
+As emblems of immortality and death that were no longer polar opposites, it is not surprising to hear that the Dioscuri, like [[Heracles]] were said to have been initiated at [[Eleusinian mysteries|Eleusis]].<ref>In the oration of the Athenian peace emissary sent to Sparta in 371, according to [[Xenophon]] (''Hellenica'' VI), it was asserted that "these three heroes were the first strangers upon whom this gift was bestowed." (Karl Kerenyi, 1967. ''Eleusis: Archetypal Image of Mother and Daughter'' (Princeton: Bollingen), p. 122.</ref>
 ==Roman Castor and Pollux==