Gemini is the sign of the Twins. It is the third sign of the zodiac and the first to have a human rather than an animal symbol.
The myth of the Twins, like that of the previous sign Taurus, also involves Jupiter and his eye for a pretty face. In this story, the object of his affections is a beautiful woman, Leda, married to Tyndareus, king of Sparta. The lustful god Jupiter, apparently unwilling to try the bull ploy twice (see Taurus), changed himself into the form of a magnificent swan. Details of the encounter are a bit sketchy, but he did manage to seduce Leda while disguised as a swan.
From this remarkable union, Leda bore two eggs. The story goes that one of the eggs was the offspring of Jupiter, and that the other was the offspring of Leda’s mortal husband. The two eggs produced four children: two brothers, Castor and Pollux, and two sisters, Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra. It is unclear exactly whom Jupiter sired. Some versions of the tale say that Castor and Pollux were his immortal offspring. Others have Castor and Helen as Jupiter’s children.
In either case, the twin brothers Castor and Pollux grew up strong and stalwart and inseparable. Castor became famous for his skill as a horse-tamer; Pollux was renowned as a superb boxer. When they were young men they joined Jason and his Argonauts on their expedition to find the Golden Fleece. During a storm at sea, two stars appeared over the heads of the twins and the storm miraculously ended. Because of that incident, Castor and Pollux are considered the patron saints of travelers at sea. (During storms at sea, these lights are still seen twinkling at the top of ships’ masts and other tall spires. They are caused by the discharge of electricity. The legend is that if two lights are seen, the storm will cease; if only one appears, the storm will grow worse.)
The twin brothers are described as high-spirited young men. Unfortunately, during a battle Castor met his death. Pollux was inconsolable. At last he went to his father Jupiter to beg him to bring Castor back to life. In turn, Pollux volunteered to give up his own life as ransom.
Jupiter rewarded the brothers’ great love and attachment to each other by placing them in the sky as stars. There they shine in the constellation of Gemini, side by side throughout the ages.
The myth of the Twins, like that of the previous sign Taurus, also involves Jupiter and his eye for a pretty face. In this story, the object of his affections is a beautiful woman, Leda, married to Tyndareus, king of Sparta. The lustful god Jupiter, apparently unwilling to try the bull ploy twice (see Taurus), changed himself into the form of a magnificent swan. Details of the encounter are a bit sketchy, but he did manage to seduce Leda while disguised as a swan.
From this remarkable union, Leda bore two eggs. The story goes that one of the eggs was the offspring of Jupiter, and that the other was the offspring of Leda’s mortal husband. The two eggs produced four children: two brothers, Castor and Pollux, and two sisters, Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra. It is unclear exactly whom Jupiter sired. Some versions of the tale say that Castor and Pollux were his immortal offspring. Others have Castor and Helen as Jupiter’s children.
In either case, the twin brothers Castor and Pollux grew up strong and stalwart and inseparable. Castor became famous for his skill as a horse-tamer; Pollux was renowned as a superb boxer. When they were young men they joined Jason and his Argonauts on their expedition to find the Golden Fleece. During a storm at sea, two stars appeared over the heads of the twins and the storm miraculously ended. Because of that incident, Castor and Pollux are considered the patron saints of travelers at sea. (During storms at sea, these lights are still seen twinkling at the top of ships’ masts and other tall spires. They are caused by the discharge of electricity. The legend is that if two lights are seen, the storm will cease; if only one appears, the storm will grow worse.)
The twin brothers are described as high-spirited young men. Unfortunately, during a battle Castor met his death. Pollux was inconsolable. At last he went to his father Jupiter to beg him to bring Castor back to life. In turn, Pollux volunteered to give up his own life as ransom.
Jupiter rewarded the brothers’ great love and attachment to each other by placing them in the sky as stars. There they shine in the constellation of Gemini, side by side throughout the ages.