#Polydeukes

[arte-e-homoerotismo]

Castor e Pollux (ou Polydeukes) são meio-irmãos gêmeos na mitologia grega e romana, conhecidos juntos como Dioscuri. mármore

Castor and Pollux (or Polydeukes) are twin half-brothers in Greek and Roman mythology, known together as the Dioscuri. marble

[dragoon-mid-jump]

OC tag game (FFXIV Edition)

Tagged by: @sundered-souls! Thank you!

Favorite OC: I gotta say, when I was first creating Kouh'to as a concept for Y'dehlya having a younger sibling, I did not expect him to turn out the way he did and he is very fun to daydream about.

Oldest OC: Oldest by creation, U’reksh, actually. I had made his “original files” first before Y’dehlya’s, but it was Y’dehlya that I decided to put in FFXIV first. But in terms of age, it’s among Y’tohmar, Kouh, U’sheiroh and Kouh’s Unnamed Best Friend, as they’re all parents.

If you wanna get really technical about age, Persephone and Ares.

Newest OC: Polydeukes, an Ancient OC. And technically Kastor, even though he’s Kouh’to’s unsundered self. In case anyone’s wondering, Poly allowed herself to be sacrificed to Zodiark and left Kastor behind, which tragically follows the "end" of the Gemini Twins' story of the immortal Polydeuces living on after the mortal Kastor is killed.

Meanest OC: Kouh’to. Arguably Y’tohmar, if you wanna count his blunt/brutal honesty “mean”, as the source of that trait of Kouh’to’s.

Softest OC: U'reksh has the undisputed fluffiest hair of the Scions.

Most Aloof/Standoffish OC: Kouh. Where do you think Kouh'to got it from?

Dumbest (Affectionate) OC: U’reksh. Absolute puppydog of a catboy, he is.

Dumbest (Derogatory) OC: U’sheiroh. He’s a decent guy and all, the self-imposed exile after losing his Nunh status notwithstanding...but he also fucking ghosted the two kids he was closest to from HW to EW because he thought they’d long outgrown him. Which especially in U’reksh’s case couldn’t be further from the truth.

Smartest OC: They’ve all got their own smarts in specific areas, but academically? Kouh’s Still-Unnamed Childhood Bestie being an Arcanist. Or probably Ares, a formidable genius in mechanical and martial creations and concepts. And the unfortunate origin of a lot of the technology Emet-Selch introduced to Allag and Garlemald.....

Horniest OC: I'd say...Y'dehlya. Flirty, charismatic, falls in love pretty quickly once she decides to set her sights on someone especially if they're available, turned as red as her own hair when Hancock called her "Stealer of Pants" in Stormblood, earning funny looks from the other Scions, especially after Kouh'to himself confirmed that there was at least one incident of such (I never got around tot he Hildebrand quests).

OC You'd Bang: Uh....*points to the above entry* and also Y'kouha. While both have gotten around, both also seek long-term romantic partners to get to know.

OC You'd Be Best Friends With IRL: I actually am not sure. Maybe both my WoLs? They're both pretty fun to be around.

Tagging: You. Yeah, you, reading this. If you wanna.

[littlesparklight]

Gonna have two posts for today's AUtober prompt (fairytales) lol because this part of a potential Helen/Paris fic hit me today. So a snippet, the story it's based on is King/Prince Lindworm.

For being a giant snake, the drakon was beautiful. She - for it was a she - was a pure, gleaming white from the very tip of her blunt nose down to the pinky-thick, pointed end of her tail. Some of the scales were edged in what seemed like gold, for how flashed in the light, dazzling the eyes with a pattern only seen behind one's closed eyelids, or from the edge of one's vision. There was even a pearlescent shimmer to the white of her scales.

Though her middle was as thick about as that of an adult woman, she moved with the grace of a swan bending its neck this way and that, curving over the surface of the water as it swam. And whatever else one might say about her huge, unblinking eyes, they were not the livid yellow or dead black of most snakes, but a sparkling, soft gray, like morning mist lit by the rising sun.

"I'd be honoured," Paris said, throat thick, a cold chill keeping him captive, unable to follow his heart's hammering urge to flee - if he hadn't spoken, and drawn in the air needed to do so, he might have fainted. He just barely managed to keep from croaking his agreement - such as it was - out. "She's beautiful."

The king and queen stared.

Their son's eyebrows shot up high on his smooth forehead as he stared. The guards, still clutching their pikes and hilts of swords as if he might have the least bit chance to actually effect an escape if he should dare to try, stared. The small number of court functionaries and nobles present to gawk at yet another unfortunate young man being consigned to such a cruel death, stared too.

And the drakon, who had been staring out the windows across the throne room as if uncaring or unknowing of what was going on around her after she'd revealed herself, whipped her head around to stare.

[eparch]

This round of new characters was mostly about finally making a bunch of characters I’ve been planning for a while now, which would also complete my “have one of every Sylvari gender/profession combo” goal.

[starofmithras]

Kaire, Castor and Polydeukes! ⚡

Saviors of storm-wracked ships, tamers of horses, and protectors of travelers, the Dioskouroi (Divine Twins) appear to sailors during storms in the guise of St. Elmo's fire--an electrical discharge which creates a glow about the mast-head and rigging of ships. Every year on July 15th the ancient Romans celebrated the feast of Castor and Pollux, their Roman counterparts.

"Come hither, leaving the island of Pelops, strong sons of Zeus and Leda; appear with kindly heart, Castor and Polydeukes, who go on swift horses over the broad earth and all the sea, and easily rescue men from chilling death, leaping on the peaks of their well-benched ships, brilliant from afar as you run up the fore-stays, bringing light to the black ship in the night of trouble."

--- Alcaeus

Statue: The San Ildefonso Group, a Roman sculpture from 10 BC showing Castor and Pollux or Orestes and Pylades, Museo del Prado, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

[retroosquared]

the Dioscuri

[1] Castor and Pollux (2022) Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. [2] Svarlien, D.A. (1990) Pindar, Nemean 10, Pindar, Nemean, Nemean 10 For Theaeus of Argos Wrestling 444 B. C.

[ID: Two page comic of Lemon and Tangerine from Bullet Train, with text from the Wikipedia page on the brothers Castor and Pollux and Nemean Odes 10 throughout the two pages. The first page reads, “Castor and Pollux (or Polydeukes) are twin half-brothers” over two frames of Lemon and Tangerine fighting over whether they killed 16 or 17 people, then “Castor and Pollux are sometimes both mortal, sometimes both divine.” There is a drawing of Lemon saying, “I never bleed.” in stylized text, then the Wikipedia entry continues: “One consistent point is that if only one of them is immortal, it is Pollux.”

The second page is in two halves, the first half being Tangerine taking off his pendant to give to Lemon. Some parts of the drawing are in colour, some are in greyscale. Over it, the Wikipedia entry reads: “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.” The excerpt from the Nemean 10 follows: “‘But nevertheless I grant you your choice in this. If you wish to escape death and hated old age, and to dwell in Olympus yourself with me and Athena and Ares of the dark spear, you can have this lot. But if you strive to save your brother, and intend to share everything equally with him, then you may breathe for half the time below the earth, and for half the time in the golden homes of heaven.’ When Zeus had spoken thus, Polydeuces did not have a second thought.” The second half of the page is a drawing of the scene where Lemon sits next to Tangerine’s dead body. Both are covered in blood and the sunrise is shining on them through the train’s window. The last bit of the Wikipedia entry reads: “The brothers became the two brightest stars in the constellation Gemini (”the twins”): Castor (Alpha Geminorum) and Pollux (Beta Geminorum).” End ID.]

[justuraverageweirdo]

Gemini greek myth <3

Heyy TSAMS fandom, so I have a GINORMOUS Greek Mythology obsession, and recently I learned that Castor and Pollux have a Greek myth. I decided I would share the most common of it with you guys because oh my god. It's kind of insane and I'm VERY worried for Castor. Also some of you guys might be able to use it for theory crafting. Let's get to it I guess lmfao. It's under the cut if you're interested

BIRTH

Kastor and Polydeukes, translated in Latin to Castor and Pollux, were the twin sons (yes, sons. Pollux got shot with the woman gun) of Leda, queen of Sparta. In the same night that Tyndareus, King of Sparta and Castor's father, slept with Leda, Zeus (Pollux's father) disguised himself as a swan and had the sexytime with Leda. Due to this, when they were born, Pollux was immortal and Castor was not.

RANDOM MYTHS THAT THEY WERE INVOLVED IN BECAUSE WHY NOT

They joined Melegar on his Calydonian boar hunt

Found the golden fleece with Jason and the Argonauts

Pollux outboxed Amycus, King of the Bebryces

When Helen of Troy (their sister) was abducted by Theseus, the twins brought her back and kidnapped Theseus' mother, Aethra, as revenge.

THE ACTUALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS WHOLE ASS THING

At one point, the twins decided to pull a stupid and abducted Pheobe and Hilaira, daughters of Leucippus. The girls twin cousins, Idas and Lynceus (whom they also happened to be betrothed to which to that I say eugh) came to save them. Pollux was the only survivor. Idas managed to murder Castor with his spear, and in retaliation, Pollux killed Lynceus. Idas tried to kill Pollux, who was stopped by Zeus. In order to protect his son, Zeus sent down a lightning bolt and killed Idas.

Now having to face the fact that his brother was dead, Pollux begged Zeus to bring Castor back to life. Zeus told Pollux that he only would do so if Pollux agreed to give up his immortality. Pollux agreed. Zeus then allowed Castor and Pollux to alternate between spending one day in the Underworld and one day on Mount Olympus so they could always be together. Later on, Zeus created the constellation of Gemini as a symbol of their brotherly love.

Now, in the Lunar and Earth show, I'm pretty sure Castor states in their introductory episode that if one of the twins die, the other one dies too. I think it also applies if they are far away from each other for long enough. So I don't know if this information would help, but considering Rez has just started the infection on Earth, I wouldn't be surprised if something did end up happening to Castor. I'm just gonna leave this here for you theorists. Thanks for listening to my deranged ADHD rambling <3

[the-good-spartan]

Posts about Ancient Greek History

Things I write to help process information and assemble my notes and thoughts for future reference.

This is an ongoing project. I will add more over time.

My focus is primarily the Arkhidamian (Archidemian) War with a particular emphasis on Sparta, but I'm currently widening my focus to include the First Peloponnesian War, the Messenian Wars, and the lives of Demosthenes (the General) and Thucydides (the Historian).

Sparta

Their Culture

Spartan scholars be like

Introduction and List of Chief Sources

Becoming a Spartan Citizen, Part One: The Agoge.

Becoming a Spartan Citizen, Part Two: The Phiditia & Contributions to the Mess

Food for Warriors.

Spartan Social Structure: Part One - The Helots || Rent? Contracts?

Spartan Social Structure: Part Two - The Perioikoi

Spartan Social Structure: Part Three - Spartan Women || A few notes on the Rites dedicated to Helen at Sparta

Spartan Social Structure: Part Four - The Hypomeiones

Stalkers in the Night: The Krypteia || Primary Sources: Krypteia

The Horses of Lakedaimon

The Spartan Political Structure: Damos, Ephors, Gerontes, Kings.

Spartan Men and their Hair || Examples of likely hairstyles

Felt Helmets

Rethinking the scale of Spartan mess and barrack buildings

Spartan Games

Ask: Did Homoioi Travel?

A Few Notes on 427 BCE: The Transfer of the Kingship at Sparta

Military History

Background to the Third Messenian War

The Third Messenian War c. 464 BCE

The Battle of Tanagra c. 457 BCE

Maps (Mostly Related to Brasidas' Campaigns during the Arkhidamian War)

Sparta || Amphipolis 1 || Amphipolis 2 || Koryphasion (Pylos) & Sphakteria || Korinth/Nisaia || Brasidas' Campaign in Makedonia

Sparta in Pop Culture

A Cry of Frustration

Response to Anti-Spartan Sentiment

A Few Notes on God of War: Ragnarok (the Spartan Stuff)

Spartan Armour (this ain’t it)

Thinking About Spartans Thinking

A Distinction Between Sparta and Lakedaimon

Contracts? Rent?

Spartans and Their Aversion to Ranged Warfare?

Posts About Figures in the Arkhidamian War

Brasidas, Son of Tellis.

Probable Timeline of Brasidas' Life

Brasidas' Ossuary

Demosthenes, Son of Alkisthenes (The General):

As a Catalyst to the Battles of Spahkteria and Pylos?

A Few Notes

Alternative to Thucydides' Version of his Death

Thucydides, Son of Oloros (The Historian):

The Way Thucydides Thinks

A Few Notes

Posts about Polytheism and Mythology (Roman & Hellenic) :

Lakonian Royal Lineage (Mythological) || Sparta in the Catalogue of Ships || Helen, Kastor, Polydeukes

Chief Gods worshipped at Sparta (Not Ares!) || The Gods Worshipped at Sparta - further details.

Related Posts:

Roman and Hellenic Mythology: They are not the Same Thing

Viewing History Through a Modern Lens

Graeco-Roman Art: A Cautionary Tale

[tylermileslockett]

ARGONAUTICA series 6: "Harpies and the Clashing Rocks"

Book 2 begins with the crew docking upon the coast of the Bebrykians, where king Amykos, with outrageous arrogance, challenges the best argonaut to a brutal boxing match. Polydeuks (son of Zeus, and twin half-brother to Castor) rises to meet the challenge. The men wrap their fists with dried leather thongs, and rush headlong into fierce combat. The warriors exchange brutal blows until finally, Polydeukes sizing up the kings weaknesses, delivers the fatal blow, shattering the bones in the kings head. The warriors on both sides rush into battle, the argonauts fighting like wild wolves, and the Bebrykians finally scattering like bees from smoke.

 The following day the Argo sails out through the Bosporos strait where the ship Helmsman, Tiphys, overcomes a giant wave. Here they put in at the Thynian coast where they meet the pitiful King Phineus, who had been given the power of prophecy by Apollo. But having revealed too much truth to mankind, Zeus cursed the king, taking away his eyesight, lengthening his lifespan, and ever hounded by the terrifying Harpies,(half-bird half-human creatures) that descend from the clouds to steal the kings food as he eats, leaving behind a rank odor that spoils everyones appetites. Here the argonaut twin heroes Zetes and Kalais, (twin sons of Boreas, the North wind) with their black wings on their temples and feet, flew after the harpies chasing them away forever, thus saving the king from his curse.

 In appreciation, Phineus warns the men of the deadly passage through the dark, clashing rocks, advising them to send a dove through first, to test the timing. The following day the men journey through the clashing rocks, using the dove, and with Athena’s aid, barely escape death.

Like this art? It will be in my illustrated book with over 130 other full page illustrations coming in march to kickstarter. Please check my links in my linktree in my bio to join the kickstarter notification page. 🤟❤️🏛

[araiz-zaria]

Napoleonic Halloween Party — Greek Gods And Goddesses Edition✨

Remember that way back then I made Napoleonic Halloween Party costume assignments for Napoleonic era figures? Well, now is time for another assignment, this time with an overarching theme — Greek Gods And Goddesses 😏😉✨

And here goes...

Napoleon Bonaparte: Zeus

Josephine Bonaparte: Hera

Geraud Duroc: Ganymede

Pauline Bonaparte: Aphrodite

Louis Alexandre Berthier: Castor

Jean Baptiste Bessieres: Polydeukes

Elisa Bonaparte: Athena

Joachim Murat: Hades

Caroline Murat: Persephone

Letizia Bonaparte: Demeter

Jean Lannes: Thanatos

Michel Ney: Moros

Aglae Ney: Elpis

Andre Massena: Hermes

Dominique Jean Larrey: Asclepius

Louis Nicolas Davout: Ares

Aimée Davout: Artemis

Nicolas Oudinot: Hephaestus

Laurent Gouvion St Cyr: Apollo

Pierre Augereau: Kratos

Jean Baptiste Bernadotte: Deimos

Jean De Dieu Soult: Hypnos

A portrait of Suffren: Poseidon

Pyotr Bagration: Dionysus

[mythologer]

Castor and Pollux, marble (1767), Joseph Nollekens (1737-1823), British sculptor.

Castor and Pollux (or in Greek, Polydeukes) were twin half-brothers in Greek and Roman mythology, known together as the Dioscuri.

Their mother was Leda, but they had different fathers; Castor was the mortal son of Tyndareus, the king of Sparta, while Pollux was the divine son of Zeus. Pollux asked Zeus to let him share his own immortality with his twin to keep them together, and they were transformed into the constellation Gemini. The Dioscuri were regarded as helpers of humankind and held to be patrons of travelers and of sailors in particular, who invoked them to seek favorable winds.

[asagisnobody]

Young Penelope in Sparta!

I think she probably does not like to much live in Sparta. And have 9 siblings, or her noisy cousins Castor and Polydeukes always around (i imagine them to be so terrible, poor Tyndareus), when she's a shy girl who would like to have a bit of calm... and at the same time she's the smartest around, but she does not like to show it too much. And i can't help but think that her meeting with Odysseus gives her the reason of become stronger. To force her will in her life. After all, when her father Icarios begs her to stay in Sparta with him, she refuses with energy. She put her veil on her face and wait for Odysseus to take her away from there.

And to all the guys around who say that Penelope in the Odyssey is the stereotype of the perfect greek woman so she's not a strong character, i have to say a thing:) I respect your valid opinion, but she's been able to keep 108 men at bay* with just her smartness. But if love for your husband is a thing that makes you weak, then she probably is.

(Just my modest opinion and my headcanon:) Do not take it too serious.)

(*to all the english and american people out there, is this expression correct? ty)

[littlesparklight]

"It has to be Paris because only he would make the choice he did because he is what/who he is and do what he does and lead to the war."

I even agree, generally. But -

Setting aside; all the potential ways war would absolutely be had if one of the other two was chosen, because none of them would have NOT been insulted at not being given the apple; the easy (but not intended) extrapolation that Paris could absolutely have had Helen if he chooses one of the other two, because if you go to war you can just pick up whatever woman you want, and if you're to be king of all Europe and Asia/all men, again... easy to get someone else's wife, one way or another.

Sure, it has to be Paris because he (proves he) does not care for what men in that culture should. He chooses the unmanly option out of the three. Because valuing a relationship above martial glory or getting to be the ruler of a kingdom like no one has ever seen before (or, to allegorise it, martial or political gain/success) is just not manly. Just not what a man should be focusing on.

And yeah, Paris, upon finding Helen married, must be able and capable of, in one interpretation of what happens in Sparta, commit kidnapping.

But this isn't why it has to be Paris.

If all you need is someone that is capable and able of ~kidnapping a (married) woman~ then Zeus could have chosen basically whichever Achaean who didn't marry Helen and let them at it. Kidnapping, or "kidnapping" for when she's indicated to be into the man removing her from her father, was something that happened quite often in Greek myth by mortal men, after all. Paris is hardly unique in "taking what he wants", if that is the interpretation one prefers to go with.

Idas, Polydeukes and Kastor, (not going to really count Jason here, but like Paris and Helen, Medea leaving Colchis is construed as a "kidnapping" in some sources), Theseus, for a couple off the top of my head. None of these few accounts for all the war-related "killing the woman's husband first and then taking her as an enslaved war prize".

Idas, for example, is a case of "the woman (Marpessa here) wanted him to" in at least some source(s), for her father is keeping her from marrying anyone at all.

This Idas, by the way, is the same Idas as in Idas and Lynkeus, the cousins of the Dioskouroi who oppose them kidnapping their cousins (to both sets of brothers) Phoibe and Hilaeira. And while it's not always the case, in some versions Phoibe and Hilaeira are at least betrothed if not married to Idas and Lynkeus before Kastor and Polydeukes decide they want their cousins, and take them.

No, you know why it's more likely it was needed to be Paris, specifically?

Here's another set of names: Bellerophon, Peleus, Tenes, Hippolytos.

Each of them are approached by a married woman, and they each rebuff her (and then get subjected to a false rape accusation), being fine, upstanding men who would of course never sleep with someone else's wife, no matter how willing she is.

So what Zeus really needs isn't necessarily someone capable of kidnapping (lots of that around!), but someone willing, capable, and able of adultery and elopement.

(Of course, Paris isn't doing it without divine "sanction" as it were, via Aphrodite, but still.)

[eparch]

Trying to make an effort to actually post Things I Made, so here's an OC doodle I did a bit ago of a trio on a road trip across Cantha! (Screenshots forthcoming once they're all at lvl 80)

Baogu (center) was one of the first Sylvari to awaken after Commander Lucilaeh's arrival in Cantha and the subsequent opening of its borders. They emerged from the Dream having seen fragments of its landscapes and peoples from Luci and other Sylvari who had traveled there, and it was determined their Wyld Hunt was to travel there themself and write a travelogue while journeying around Cantha.

Joining them are Rudy and Polly, their two dads who...do not like each other very much.

Rudy (left) is a much older Sylvari, a Pale Reaver who survived the events of Heart of Thorns and fought in the various campaigns led by Dragon's Watch over the years since. He happened to be on leave when Baogu awoke, and, after a chance meeting, quickly became attached to them in a parental way. The two adopted each other as parent and child before going off to Cantha.

Polly (right) is a Sylvari Warrior born sometime around Path of Fire who developed a fascination with Norn culture and went off to live among them in the first homestead that would take him in as more than just a passing curiosity and traveler. One day, he wakes with a Wyld Hunt to go accompany Baogu, so he travels to Cantha and meets up with them and is very annoyed when he discovers they've got a companion already who calls himself their dad.

Cue shenanigans as they make their way through Cantha with Baogu pointedly ignoring the tension between their dads and the dads trying to not be overt about it. And a lot of learning about Canthans and humans in general and very especially the food everywhere they go.

[smallraindrops-blog]

I was looking through the website that had a bunch of greek myth information (Theoi.com) and found a pair of twin gods that seem like a possible contender as Y/n Bio dad.

Dioskouroi, Polydeuces and Kastor, twin sons of Zeda and sired by Zeus and her husband Tyndareus, God's of Horsemanship and protecter of guests and travelers. They're also the constellation Gemini.

Quoting from the website:

"The twins were born as mortal princes, sons of the Spartan queen Leda by Zeus and her husband Tyndareus. Because of their kindness and generosity they were apotheosised at death. Polydeukes (Polydeuces), being a son of Zeus, was at first the only one offered this gift but he insisted it be shared with his twin Kastor (Castor). Zeus agreed, but in order to appease the Fates, the twins had to spend alternate days in heaven and the underworld.

The Dioskouroi were also placed amongst the stars as the constellation Gemini (the Twins). The division of their time between heaven and the underworld might be a reference to the heavenly cycles--for their constellation is visible in the sky for only six months of the year.

The Dioskouroi were depicted as youthful horsemen with wide-brimmed traveller's hats."

ooooooh. I love that website and wiki too.

Good guess! But no. If it helps I did have them on a list of possible baby daddies.

[elektramouthed]

 According to myth, Kastor and Polydeukes are brothers (one mortal, the other immortal) who could not bear to be parted by death and so divide a single eternity between them, spending alternate days on and under the earth, infinitely half-lost. “Now they are living, day and day about,” says Homer. Mortality and immortality continue side by side in them, hinged by a strange arrangement of grace. A poet is also a sort of hinge. Through songs of praise he arranges a continuity between mortal and immortal life for a man like Skopas. And although Skopas believes he is paying Simonides a certain price for a certain quantity of words, in fact he acquires a memory that will prolong him far beyond all these. He will be one of the unlost. Gratitude is in order.

Anne Carson, from Economy of the Unlost