I Dioscuri (Castor and Pollux)
The following is an excerpt from: Cults, Myths and Legends of Ancient Sicily (Author: Ignazio Caloggero – ISBN: 9788894321913)
The Dioscuri at the Campidoglio - Rome
Origins of the MIto
Dioscuri (from Dioskuroi, meaning "sons of God") is the name by which Castor and Pollux are known, sons of Zeus and Leda , the wife of Tyndareus , king of Lacedaemon. On the night the Dioscuri were conceived, Leda also united with her husband, and from that night of love, in addition to Castor and Pollux, Helen and Clytemnestra were also born . There was disagreement among the ancients as to which of the children was born from the seed of the god and which, instead, from that of Tyndareus. In the end, Pollux and Helen were attributed to Zeus, who were therefore considered immortal, and Castor and Clytemnestra to Tyndareus, who were considered mortal.
The two brothers were also called Tindaridi, or sons of Tindaro.
Castor is seen as a very good horse tamer and Pollux is considered an excellent boxer.
Their legend is characterized by the great brotherly love that bound them in life and which lasted even after death. They were inseparable friends and when, as a result of an ambush, Castor was killed and Pollux wounded, Zeus called with him Pollux to Olympus, he refused immortality if the same fate had not also befallen his brother Castor. Zeus, struck by this brotherly love, promised them to keep them always together, one day in Olympus and one day underground, in the Underworld. The two heroes, made immortal, are then seen living for ever in both light and darkness.
The Dioscuri, like the indigenous Palici , were considered protectors of people in danger, were invoked in battle or during a strong storm and were particularly venerated by sailors. It is no coincidence that the two-pointed St. Elmo's fires [1] were called "Dioscuri", as they were considered a good omen by sailors.
Roman coin representing the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius (278-312) and the Dioscuri
The Myth in Sicily
In Sicily the cult of the Dioscuri absorbed the indigenous cult of the Palici. In Agrigento , the remains of a temple from the 5th century BC have been found, perhaps dedicated to them [2], where the Theoxenia were celebrated, festivals in which it was believed that the Dioscuri participated in the public banquet, thus making an alliance with the participants [3].
Temple of Castor and Pollux - Agrigento
It is likely that the cult of the Dioscuri also existed in Tindari . The name of the city itself derives, in fact, from Tindaridi, the name by which the Dioscuri were also known. Indeed, a black-and-white mosaic depiction of the Dioscuri was found in a room inside a thermal bath in Tindari, probably from the 2nd century, unearthed during excavations after 1949.
The discovery of coins would indicate the presence of the cult also in Syracuse , Catania and Palermo [4].
Archaeological findings in recent years have also demonstrated the existence of the cult of the Dioscuri in the cities of Solunto [5], where a panel representing them was found [6], and of Akray [7] where two statues representing the deities were found [8].
Religious syncretism
The Dioscuri also have connections with Christian saints. Together with Asclepius, they contributed to shaping the image of Saints Cosmas and Damian , the two physician brothers martyred in the 3rd century and later considered protectors of the sick. Analyzing the origin of the name Damian, one can note that it derives from the Greek " Damasos," meaning "tamer," and Castor, one of the Dioscuri brothers, was a skilled tamer. The Dioscuri were protectors of seafarers, and in Sicily, in Palermo , Saints Cosmas and Damian were also considered protectors of fishermen. In the last century, the feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Palermo had been cancelled, reportedly for reasons of public safety, and it was the fishermen themselves who, by lobbying the authorities, succeeded in reinstating the feast in 1894.
Santi Cosma e Damiano
In this regard, see the interesting article by Roberto Garufi published online on Slow Food Palermo [10]
[1] The Fires of St. Elmo probably had an electrostatic origin, in fact, it happened to see them at the top of the masts of ships during strong storms and, somehow, they were an indication that the storm was about to end.
[2] Vincenzo Tusa and Ernesto De Miro: Western Sicily p.131.
[3] Ciaceri Emanuele: Cults and Myths of Ancient Sicily p.296.
[4] Ciaceri Emanuele: Cults and Myths of Ancient Sicily p.301.
[5] The remains of the ancient center were located near Monte Catalfano (about 16 km east of Palermo).
[6] Filippo Coarelli and Mario Torelli: Sicily “Archaeological Guides Laterza” p.38.
[7] The ancient Greek center has been identified near Palazzolo Acreide in the province of Syracuse.
[8] Filippo Coarelli and Mario Torelli: Sicily “Archaeological Guides Laterza” p.298.
[9] Roberto Garufi: "U Viaggiu di Cosma e Damiano" link: https://slowfoodpalermo.com/2013/09/29/u-viaggiu-di-cosma-e-damiano-di-roberto-garufi/
Card insertion: Ignazio Caloggero
Photo: web, Ignazio Caloggero
Informational contributions : Ignazio Caloggero, Sicily Region