Castor and Pollux

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Castor and Pollux

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Castor and Pollux , 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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"Castor and Pollux." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 23 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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Castor and Pollux

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | © The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 2006, originally published by Oxford University Press 2006. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Castor and Pollux in Greek mythology, the twin sons of Jupiter and Leda and brothers of Helen, the Dioscuri.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Castor and Pollux." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 23 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Castor and Pollux." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (December 23, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-CastorandPollux.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Castor and Pollux." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Retrieved December 23, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-CastorandPollux.html

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Castor and Pollux

A Dictionary of the Bible | 1997 | | © A Dictionary of the Bible 1997, originally published by Oxford University Press 1997. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Castor and Pollux The name (REB) of the ship of Alexandria in which Paul sailed from Malta (Acts 28: 11) with these twin brothers (NRSV) as figurehead. In Greek mythology they were the sons of the god Zeus and brothers of Helen.
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W. R. F. BROWNING. "Castor and Pollux." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 23 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

W. R. F. BROWNING. "Castor and Pollux." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (December 23, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-CastorandPollux.html

W. R. F. BROWNING. "Castor and Pollux." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved December 23, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-CastorandPollux.html

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