1. The Story**
The Seduction of the Queen
The Twins represents the two brothers, Castor and Polydeuces (in Latin, Pollux). Their mother was
Queen Leda of Sparta, who was seduced by Zeus in the form of a swan. That same night she also slept with
her husband King Tyndareus. As a result she bore the Twins, one of whom was mortal, and the other
immortal.
Twins? Quads? And What About the Egg?
Castor was the mortal Twin and the son of King Tyndareus. Polydeuces was immortal; he had been
fathered by Zeus. According to other stories, there were two girls born as well - Helen, who was implicated
in the Trojan war - and Clytemnestra. And the children are usually portrayed as coming from an egg -
probably because of Zeus seduced the queen in the form of a bird.
The Inseparable Twins
Castor and Polydeuces were identical twins, in spite of the fact that they had different fathers. They were
inseparable and devoted to each other. Both twins excelled at the hunt and at the arts of war. Polydeuces
was a champion boxer and Castor was a famous horseman. He was skilled with the sword as well and
taught the art of swordfighting to the young Hercules.
Castor Dies in a Fight
The Twins sailed with Jason and the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece. They had many
adventures together on the voyage. Castor's life ended as the result of an encounter with another pair of
twins, Idas and Lynceus. Some say that the quarrel was over women, others, over cattle, but in the ensuing
battle Lynceus ran Castor through with the sword, whereupon Polydeuces killed Lynceus. Idas attacked
Polydeuces, but Zeus killed him with a thunderbolt.
The Mercy of Zeus
Polydeuces was inconsolable at the loss of his twin. He prayed to Zeus that he might share his
immortality with his brother. Zeus took mercy upon the twins and set them together eternally among the
stars as the constellation of the Gemini.