later tradition, they were the children of Zeus and Leda, whose love
the god had won under the form of a swan. In some versions Leda is
represented as having brought forth two eggs, from one of which were
born Castor and Pollux, from the other Helen. In another account, Zeus
is the father of Pollux and Helen, Tyndareus (king of Sparta) of Castor
and Clytaemnestra. In Homer, Castor, Pollux and Clytaemnestra are said
to be the children of Tyndareus and Leda, Helen the daughter of Leda by
Zeus. The Dioscuri were specially reverenced among people of Dorian
race, and were said to have reigned at Sparta, where also they were
buried. They were also worshipped, especially in Athens, as lords and
protectors ([Greek: anakes, anaktes]). Sailors in a storm prayed to them
(Horace, _Odes_, i. 3) and sacrificed a white lamb, whereupon they were
wont to appear in the form of fire at the masthead (probably referring
to the phenomenon of St Elmo's fire), and the storm ceased. Later, they
were confounded with the Samothracian Cabeiri. In battle they appeared
riding on white horses and gave victory to the side they favoured. They
were the patrons of hospitality, and founded the sacred festival called
Theoxenia. They presided over public games, Castor especially as the
horse-tamer, Pollux as the boxer; but both are represented as riding on
horseback or driving in a chariot. In Sparta their ancient symbol was
two parallel beams [Greek: dokana] connected by cross-bars, which the
Spartans took with them into the field (Plutarch, _De Fraterno Amore_,
1; Herodotus v. 75); later, they were represented by two amphorae with
snakes twined round them. Their most important exploits were the
invasion of Attica, to rescue their sister Helen from Theseus; their
share in the hunting of the Calydonian boar (see MELEAGER) and the
Argonautic expedition, and their battle with the sons of Aphareus,
brought about by a quarrel in regard to some cattle, in which Castor,
the mortal (as the son of Tyndareus), fell by the hand of Idas. Pollux,
finding him dead after the battle, implored Zeus to be allowed to die
with him; this being impossible by reason of his immortality, Pollux was
permitted to spend alternately one day among the gods, the other in
Hades with his brother. According to another fable, the god marked his
approval of their love by placing them together in the sky, as the Twins
or the morning and evening star (Hyginus, _Poet. Astronom._ ii. 22).
Like the