They were born the sons of the god, Jupiter, and the mortal woman Leda; the twins, Castor and Pollux were inseparable from birth. Their divine blood gave them superior strength, intelligence and agility which protected them on many adventures with Jason and the Argonauts. They were destined to rule as the dual kings of Sparta.
After the siege of Troy these Spartan Warrior princes found themselves in battle with a giant named Idas and his forces.
Pollux challenged Idas to single combat to spare the lives of the many men on both sides. The giant agreed to a wrestling match and as Pollux removed his armor; Idas thrust a spear through his back and pierced his heart. Castor cried out for his brother and fell from the agony caused by his death, as if he had been stabbed as well. Idas prepared to drive a dagger into Castor's back, but Jupiter interceded by striking down the giant with a thunderbolt from Mount Olympus.
Castor offered to give up his own immortality to bring Pollux back to life, but it was not to be. Without his brother, Castor expired on the spot, having lost all will to live.
Their comrades placed their mortal bodies in the corn-bearing earth, while their divine father placed their souls in the heavens as the two brightest stars in the night so the two brothers could never lose sight of the other’s back.
We know them as the Gemini.
Written by Mike Searson