Editing Castor and Pollux (section)

==Mythology==
Both Dioscuri were excellent horsemen and hunters who participated in the hunting of the [[Calydonian Boar]] and later joined the crew of [[Jason]]'s ship, the ''[[Argo]]''.

===As Argonauts===
During the expedition of the [[Argonauts]],<ref>Apollodorus, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+1.9.16&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:boo=0:chapter=0&highlight=Castor 1.9.16]</ref> Pollux took part in a boxing contest and defeated King [[Amykos|Amycus]] of the [[Bebryces]], a savage mythical people in [[Bithynia]]. After returning from the voyage, the Dioscuri helped Jason and [[Peleus]] to destroy the city of [[Iolcus]] in revenge for the treachery of its king [[Pelias]].

===Rescuing Helen===
When their sister Helen was abducted by [[Theseus]], the half-brothers invaded his kingdom of [[Attica]] to rescue her. In revenge they abducted Theseus's mother [[Aethra (Greek mythology)|Aethra]] and took her to Sparta while setting his rival, [[Menestheus]], on the throne of Athens. Aethra was then forced to become Helen's slave. She was ultimately returned to her home by her grandsons [[Demophon of Athens|Demophon]] and [[Acamas]] after the fall of [[Troy]].

===Leucippides, Lynceus, and death===
[[Image:Peter Paul Rubens - The Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus.jpg|thumb|''[[The Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus]]'' by [[Peter Paul Rubens|Rubens]], {{Circa|1618}}]]
Castor and Pollux aspired to marry the Leucippides ("daughters of the white horse"), [[Phoebe (Leucippides)|Phoebe]] and [[Hilaeira]], whose father was [[Leucippus (son of Perieres)|Leucippus]] ("white horse").{{Refn | group = "lower-alpha" |[[Phoebe (Leucippides)|Phoebe]] ("the pure") is a familiar 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".{{Sfn | Kerényi | 1959 | p = 109}}}}  Both women were already betrothed to cousins of the Dioscuri, the twin brothers [[Lynceus (Argonaut)|Lynceus]] and [[Idas]] of [[Messenia (ancient region)|Messenia]], sons of [[Tyndareus]]'s brother [[Aphareus of Messenia|Aphareus]].  Castor and Pollux carried the women off to [[Sparta]] wherein each had a son; Phoebe bore Mnesileos to Pollux and Hilaeira bore Anogon to Castor. This began a family feud among the four sons of the brothers Tyndareus and Aphareus.<!--How are they cousins? Not explained.-->

The cousins carried out a cattle-raid in [[Arcadia (ancient region)|Arcadia]] together but fell out over the division of the meat. After stealing the herd, but before dividing it, the cousins butchered, quartered, and roasted a calf.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Citation | first = Potis | last = Stratikis | year = 1987 | title = Ελληνική Μυθολογία | trans-title = Greek Mythology | volume = II | language = Greek | location = Athens | pages = 20–23}}.</ref> As they prepared to eat, the gigantic Idas suggested that the herd be divided into two parts instead of four, based on which pair of cousins finished their meal first.<ref name= "ReferenceA"/> Castor and Pollux agreed.<ref name= "ReferenceA" /> Idas quickly ate both his portion and Lynceus' portion.<ref name= "ReferenceA" /> Castor and Pollux had been duped. They allowed their cousins to take the entire herd, but vowed someday to take revenge.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

Some time later, Idas and Lynceus visited their uncle's home in Sparta.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> The uncle was on his way to Crete, so he left Helen in charge of entertaining the guests, which included both sets of cousins, as well as Paris, prince of Troy.<ref name = "ReferenceA" /> Castor and Pollux recognized the opportunity to exact revenge, made an excuse that justified leaving the feast, and set out to steal their cousins' herd.<ref name= "ReferenceA" /> Idas and Lynceus eventually set out for home, leaving Helen alone with Paris, who then kidnapped her.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Thus, the four cousins helped set into motion the events that gave rise to the Trojan War.

[[File:I dioscuri a cavallo sostenuti da tritoni, dal santuario di marasà a locri, 450-400 ac ca. 01.jpg|thumb|A twin  supported by [[Triton (mythology)|Triton]], from a [[Locrians|Locrian]] sculpture group (latter 5th century BCE)]]
Meanwhile, Castor and Pollux had reached their destination. Castor climbed a tree to keep a watch as Pollux began to free the cattle. Far away, Idas and Lynceus approached. Lynceus, named for the lynx because he could see in the dark, spied Castor hiding in the tree.<ref name= "ReferenceA"/> Idas and Lynceus immediately understood what was happening. Idas, furious, ambushed Castor, fatally wounding him with a blow from his spear – but not before Castor called out to warn Pollux.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> In the ensuing brawl, Pollux killed Lynceus. As Idas was about to kill Pollux, Zeus, who had been watching from [[Mount Olympus]], hurled a thunderbolt, killing Idas and saving his son.<ref name = "ReferenceA" />

Returning to the dying Castor, Pollux was given the choice by Zeus of spending all his time on [[Mount Olympus]] or giving half his immortality to his mortal brother. He opted for the latter, enabling the twins to alternate between Olympus and [[Greek underworld|Hades]].<ref name="EB">"Dioscuri". ''Encyclopædia Britannica.'' 2008.</ref><ref>{{Citation | contribution = Castor and Polydeuces | title = Who's Who in Classical Mythology | last = Routledge | place = London | publisher = Routledge | year = 2002}}.</ref> The brothers became the two brightest stars in the constellation [[Gemini (constellation)|Gemini]] ("the twins"): [[Castor (star)|Castor]] ([[Alpha Geminorum]]) and [[Pollux (star)|Pollux]] ([[Beta Geminorum]]). As emblems of immortality and death, the Dioscuri, like [[Heracles]], were said to have been initiated into the [[Eleusinian mysteries]].{{Refn | group = "lower-alpha" |In the oration of the Athenian peace emissary sent to Sparta in 69, according to [[Xenophon]] (''Hellenica'' VI), it was asserted that "these three heroes were the first strangers upon whom this gift was bestowed."<ref>{{Citation | author-link = Karl Kerényi | first = Karl | last = Kerényi | year = 1967 | title = Eleusis: Archetypal Image of Mother and Daughter | place = Princeton | publisher = Bollingen | page = 122}}.</ref>}} In some myths, [[Poseidon]] rewarded them with horses to ride and power to aid shipwrecked men.<ref>[[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''[[De astronomia]]'' 2.22.2</ref>

{{Wide image|Dioscuri rape Vatican Inv2796.jpg|800px|Roman sarcophagus (160 CE) depicting the rape of the Leucippides, Phoebe and Hilaeira ''(Vatican Museum)''|box width|center|alt=alt text}}