Gemini

The story

Gemini's mythological ancestor is the twins Castor and Pollux — sons of the Spartan Leda. Leda was with both her husband Tyndareus and with Zeus (Zeus in swan form) on the same night; twins were born — Castor mortal (Tyndareus's son), Pollux immortal (Zeus's son). They were extremely devoted to each other. When Castor died in battle, Pollux refused to part from him; he begged Zeus to make his brother immortal too. Zeus offered two choices: Pollux shares his immortality with his brother, both spending half their time immortal and half in Hades; or they part. Pollux chose the first. Zeus placed them together in the sky — the constellation Gemini. Castor and Pollux are the two brightest stars.

Into the sky

To honor Pollux's sacrifice of loyalty for his brother, Zeus kept the twins half-and-half in the sky. Half their time on Olympus, half in Hades.

Themes

• Castor and Pollux
• sibling bond
• mortal-immortal
• loyalty