Gemini+--+Castor+and+Pollux+(Constellation)

Characteristics of Astronomic Body
The constellation, Gemini, is made up of many stars. The stars form the shape of two people holding hands, Castor and Pollux. Some people think that it is the twins both sitting on a swing.



Symbols and Duties of Mythological Figure
The duties of the gemini figure is that it would always apear during the time when sailors would battle in the night. The myth says that they would fight with them, when actually the constellation was over their heads to inspire them to fight on.

Birth Story of Mythological Figure
There are many birth stories of the twins. In one story by Edith Hamilton, Leda, the mother, married Tyndareus(King of Sparta) and had two children with him, Clytemnestra and Castor.She had an affair with Jupiter, disguised as a swan, and laid an egg, making Helen and Pollux. Another story said that Leda had Clytemnestra with Tyndareus, and she laid an egg making Castor, Pollux, and Helen.

Popular Story of Mythological Figure
A popular story of the twins would be when they fought with Idas and Leucippus. That is the battle where castor had died. Jupiter and Pollux killed Idas and Leucippus. Pollux wanted his brother back so Jupiter made it that they would spend a day with Hades, the next in Olympus, always together. Another version of the story is that castor would spend a day with Hades, and Pollux in Olympus, never together.

Related Stories
The story of Helen of Troy would be a close related story

Myth or Science Connection
Synthesize the information that you have found…
 * What connections exist between your astronomic body and your mythological figure?
 * Why was your astronomic body named after your mythological figure (consider how the physical attributes of your astronomic body may reveal a connection to your mythological figure)?

**Works Cited**
Bulfinch, Thomas. The Age of Fable: Or The Beauties of Mythology. New York. 1942. Print. 8 Dec. 2009.

Hamilton, Edith. Mythology. New York, Boston. 1969. Print. 8 Dec. 2009.