Dioscuri in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Dioscuri

56 passages from 11 ancient authors that tell of Dioscuri, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. In Greek mythology, the Dioscuri were the twin brothers Castor and Pollux (also called Polydeuces). Their mother was Leda, but they had different fath... For the story in one place, read our article on Dioscuri.

Hesiod (2)

Hesiod, Fragments 1.68The suitors of HelenThe best-preserved passage of the Catalogue lists the heroes who came to woo Helen, each with his gifts, from Philoctetes and the sons of Amphiaraus to Odysseus, Menestheus, Aias and Idomeneus. Tyndareus sends none away and receives no gift, and the passage ends with the birth of Hermione.
Hesiod, Fragments 1.61–67Asclepius, Echemus and the TyndaridsThe section begins with Serus and Alazygus and then discusses whether Asclepius was the son of Arsinoe or of Coronis. It goes on to Echemus and Timandra, and to the descent of Castor and Polydeuces and the story that Tyndareus forgot Aphrodite in a sacrifice.

Homer (4)

Homer, The Homeric Hymns 30.1–33.19Hymns 30 to 33: Earth, Helios, Selene and the DioscuriFour hymns to cosmic and heroic figures. Earth, mother of all, feeds every creature and gives or takes away the means of life, and Helios drives his chariot, the son of Hyperion and Euryphaessa. Selene, the Moon, rides with a radiance that fills the sky, and the Dioscuri, Castor and Polydeuces, are saviours of ships in storms.
Homer, The Homeric Hymns 12.1–18.12Hymns 12 to 18: Hera, Demeter, the Mother of the Gods, Heracles, Asclepius, the Dioscuri and HermesSeven short hymns. Hera is praised as queen of the immortals, sister and wife of Zeus, and Demeter and her daughter Persephone are asked to keep the city safe. The Mother of the Gods delights in rattles and timbrels, Heracles, born to Alcmena, now lives on Olympus with Hebe, Asclepius is born to Coronis, the Dioscuri are born to Leda, and Hermes is born to Maia.
Homer, Iliad 3.111–244Helen on the wall of TroyIris, in the likeness of Laodice, calls Helen to the wall, where she goes with two handmaids and joins Priam and the old men at the Scaean gates. Priam asks her to name the Achaean leaders, and Helen points out Agamemnon, Odysseus and Ajax, and looks in vain for her brothers. Antenor recalls the time when Odysseus and Menelaus came to Troy as envoys.
Homer, Odyssey 11.225–332The women of oldPersephone sends up the ghosts of the women who were wives and daughters of heroes, and Odysseus questions each in turn. He sees Tyro, Antiope, Alcmene, Megara, Epicaste, Chloris, Leda, Iphimedeia, Phaedra, Procris, Ariadne, Maera, Clymene and Eriphyle. He then breaks off, saying that the night is late.

Apollodorus (3)

Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 3.11.1–2Castor and Pollux (the Dioscuri) and the children of MenelausMenelaus has Hermione by Helen and sons by other women. Castor and Pollux, the Dioscuri, carry off the daughters of Leucippus, and a quarrel over a cattle raid with Idas and Lynceus ends with Castor killed, Lynceus and Idas dead, and Pollux taken up by Zeus. Pollux refuses immortality without his brother, so they share their time between gods and mortals, and Menelaus inherits the kingdom of Sparta.
Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 3.10.1–9Hermes, Asclepius, Leda and the suitors of HelenThe Pleiades are named, and Maia bears Hermes to Zeus, who steals Apollo's cattle, invents the lyre and trades it for the cattle and the art of divination. The line of Taygete and Lacedaemon leads to Hyacinth, to Asclepius, son of Apollo and Coronis, whom Zeus strikes with a thunderbolt for raising the dead, and to Tyndareus and Icarius. Zeus, as a swan, lies with Leda, who bears Helen and the Dioscuri (or, in another version, Nemesis lays Helen's egg), and Theseus carries Helen off. The kings of Greece court Helen, and Tyndareus, on Odysseus's advice, binds them by an oath to defend the chosen husband.
Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 1.9.16–22Jason and the Argonauts: the voyage to PhineusPelias is warned against the man with one sandal and sends Jason to fetch the Golden Fleece from Colchis. Argus builds the Argo, the crew is listed, and the ship calls at Lemnos, at the land of the Doliones where Cyzicus is killed by mistake, and at Mysia, where Hylas is lost and Heracles is left behind. Polydeuces kills Amycus of the Bebryces, and at Salmydessus Zetes and Calais drive the Harpies from the seer Phineus, who tells the crew how to pass the Clashing Rocks.

Pindar (5)

Pindar, Nemean Odes 10.1–90Nemean 10: for Theaeus — Castor and PolydeucesPindar praises Argos, the city of Danaüs and Hera, and its famous heroes, among them Proetus, and the victories of Theaeus in wrestling. He tells how Idas killed Castor in a quarrel over cattle, how Polydeuces prayed to Zeus to die with his brother, and how Zeus allowed them to share their fate by living alternately under the earth and on Olympus.
Pindar, Pythian Odes 11.1–64Pythian 11: for Thrasydaeus — Orestes and AgamemnonPindar invites the daughters of Cadmus to honour Thrasydaeus of Thebes, victor in the boys' foot-race, and then tells how Orestes was rescued by his nurse after Clytaemnestra killed Agamemnon and Cassandra, how he reached Strophius, and how he later killed his mother and Aegisthus. He asks whether a wind has blown him off course, like a traveller at a fork in the road, and returns to the glory of Thrasydaeus and his father. The ode ends with a prayer to Iolaüs and to Castor and Polydeuces, who live alternately at Therapne and on Olympus.
Pindar, Isthmian Odes 1.1–68Isthmian 1: for Herodotus — Thebes, Castor and IolaüsPindar tells his native Thebes that her call outweighs his other tasks and praises Herodotus of Thebes, who drove his own chariot, comparing him to Castor and Iolaüs, the best of charioteers. He recalls Herodotus' father Asopodorus and the family's ties with Orchomenus, and calls on Poseidon, the sons of Amphitryon, the Minyae, Eleusis and Euboea, adding Protesilaus at Phylace. He ends by warning that a man who hoards wealth and oppresses others dies without glory.
Pindar, Isthmian Odes 5.1–63Isthmian 5: for Phylacidas — the Aeacidae at TroyPindar addresses Theia, mother of the Sun, and praises Phylacidas of Aegina, pancratium victor, and his brother Pytheas, and says that the Isthmus and Nemea have given them two-fold fame. He asks who it was that fought Hector, Memnon and Telephus, and answers that they were the Aeacidae of Aegina. The ode ends with the praise of Pytheas and a garland for him.
Pindar, Olympian Odes 3.1–45Olympian 3: for Theron — Heracles and the olive treePindar prays to the Dioscuri and to Helen as he honours Theron of Acragas, victor in the chariot race, and links his crown to the olive of Olympia. He tells how Heracles, who had set up the games, brought the olive from the land of the Hyperboreans and the Ister to shade the bare precinct of Pelops, after chasing the golden-horned hind for Eurystheus. He ends by saying that Theron's prowess has reached the pillars of Heracles, beyond which none can go.

Euripides (7)

Euripides, Electra 1233–1291Exodos: the Dioscuri appear and give their judgmentThe Chorus sees two figures above the house, and the Dioscuri, Castor and Polydeuces, brothers of Clytemnestra, speak to Orestes, saying that she has her just reward but that he has not acted justly, and that Phoebus gave unwise oracles. They tell him to give Electra to Pylades, to leave Argos, which he may not enter, and to go to Athens, where he will be tried, since the dread goddesses will drive him, and he will be acquitted when the votes are equal.
Euripides, Orestes 1621–1693Exodos: Apollo appears and settles the quarrelMenelaus calls on the Argives to take arms, and Apollo appears and tells him to calm his anger, since he saved Helen by the bidding of Zeus and she is to become a goddess. He orders Orestes to spend a year in exile and then to be tried at Athens, and to marry Hermione. Pylades is to marry Electra, and the quarrel ends in a truce.
Euripides, Electra 1292–1359Exodos: the Dioscuri's prophecy and the farewellThe Chorus asks if it is right to speak to the sons of Zeus, and Electra asks why Apollo, who made her a matricide, did not prevent it. The Dioscuri attribute the bloody deed to Phoebus and Necessity's fate, tell of the burial of Aegisthus and Clytemnestra, and say that Helen came from Egypt and never went to Troy, and the brother and sister part in tears, Orestes to go to Athens and Electra with Pylades.
Euripides, Helen 68–141First episode: Teucer arrives and brings news of Troy and LedaTeucer arrives at the palace and, seeing Helen, curses her likeness to the woman who ruined the Greeks. Helen questions him, and he tells of his exile from Salamis after the death of his brother Aias, and of the sack of Troy. He says that Menelaus is reported dead, that Leda hanged herself, and that the Dioscuri are said to be both dead and gods.
Euripides, Helen 142–178First episode: Teucer departs; Helen begins her lamentTeucer says that the Dioscuri are said to have killed themselves because of their sister, and that he has come to ask Theonoe for an oracle about his voyage to Cyprus, where he will found a new Salamis. Helen warns him to leave before Theoclymenus, who kills every Greek he finds, returns from hunting. Teucer thanks her and goes, and Helen begins a lament and calls on the Sirens to join her.
Euripides, Helen 1429–1511Theoclymenus plans the wedding; choral song on the ship of SidonTheoclymenus says that his house is pure since Menelaus did not die there, and tells the stranger to cast in the offerings and return for the wedding feast. Menelaus prays to Zeus to end their troubles. The Chorus sings of the swift ship bearing Helen to Greece, of the dances at Sparta, of the cranes, and of the Dioscuri.
Euripides, Helen 1642–1692Exodos: the Dioscuri end Theoclymenus' quarrel and foretell the futureThe Dioscuri tell Theoclymenus to spare Theonoe, and say that Helen was destined to return to Sparta. They promise a safe voyage, and say that Helen will become a goddess and that Menelaus will live on the islands of the blessed. Theoclymenus yields, and the Chorus says that the gods bring unhoped-for things to pass.

Apollonius Rhodius (5)

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 1.122–233The catalogue of the Argonauts, continuedHeracles leaves the Erymanthian boar at Mycenae and joins the expedition with Hylas. The catalogue goes on with Nauplius, Idmon, Castor and Polydeuces, Idas and Lynceus, Euphemus, Meleager, and Zetes and Calais, the winged sons of Boreas, and ends with Acastus and Argus. The poet adds that the whole company was called the Minyae.
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 2.1–98Polydeuces and Amycus: the boxing matchOn the shore of the Bebrycians king Amycus makes every stranger box with him and challenges the crew. Polydeuces accepts, and after a long exchange of blows kills Amycus with a stroke above the ear.
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 2.99–177The Bebrycians are routed; arrival at Phineus' landThe Bebrycians attack with clubs and spears, but the Argonauts drive them off, and the Mariandyni under Lycus raid their land. After a night of sacrifice and song Argo passes through the Bosporus and moors on the Bithynian coast opposite, in the land of Phineus.
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 2.720–814Lycus and the MariandyniArgo reaches the Acherusian headland in the land of the Mariandyni, whose king Lycus welcomes the slayers of Amycus and honours Polydeuces as a god. Jason tells the story of the voyage, and Lycus, who remembers Heracles, praises him. At dawn Lycus sends his son Dascylus with them as a guide.
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4.552–684Zeus' anger and the voyage to Circe's islandZeus is angry at the murder, and the speaking beam of Argo says that Circe must cleanse them. Argo sails up the Eridanus, where Phaethon fell, and through the Rhodanus, with Hera guiding them, past the Stoechades to the Tyrrhenian coast. They come to Aeaea and see Circe washing her hair.

Theocritus (2)

Theocritus, Idylls 22.1–223Idyll 22: The DioscuriA hymn to Castor and Pollux, helpers of sailors and of men in battle. At a spring in the land of the Bebryces Pollux boxes with the giant Amycus and beats him, and Amycus swears never again to wrong strangers. Castor fights Lynceus and kills him, and Zeus strikes down Idas with a thunderbolt. The hymn ends with a prayer to the sons of Tyndarus and with praise of song.
Theocritus, Idylls 24.1–140Idyll 24: The infant HeraclesAlcmena lulls Heracles and Iphicles to sleep, but at midnight two snakes sent by Hera crawl into the room. Alcmena wakes and calls Amphitryon, who hurries in with armed servants and finds the child Heracles clutching both snakes. Tiresias is called and foretells the labours of Heracles, and the poem ends with the boy's upbringing and training.

Diodorus Siculus (2)

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.40.1–4.44.7The Argonauts I: Jason and the voyage to PhineusJason, nephew of Pelias, has a great ship built on Mount Pelion and gathers the chiefs of Greece, with Heracles among them. On the way they rescue Hesione at Sigeium, come through a storm thanks to Orpheus' prayers to the gods of Samothrace, and reach Phineus, whose sons are freed by the Boreadae and Heracles. They then put in on the coast of the Tauric Chersonese, where strangers are sacrificed to Artemis.
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 6.2.1–6.9.1Book 6: other fragmentsThe fragments that follow take up the gods named after lands they conquered, the Titans Xanthus and Balius, crowns, Picus who was called Zeus, and the Dioscori. They go on to Salmoneus, who imitated Zeus's thunder, to Admetus, Alcestis and Melampus, and end with Bellerophon at the court of Proetus and the Chimaera.

Ovid (1)

Ovid, Metamorphoses 8.264–444The Calydonian boar huntArtemis (Diana), angered at being forgotten at the harvest rites, sends a huge boar to ravage the fields of Calydon, and Meleager gathers heroes from all Greece to hunt it. The hunters include Theseus, Jason, Castor and Pollux, and the huntress Atalanta, whose beauty and skill the others admire. Atalanta first wounds the boar, and Meleager kills it, and awards the head and hide to her. Meleager's uncles, jealous of Atalanta, snatch the prize from her, and Meleager kills them in a rage.

Pausanias (24)

Pausanias, Description of Greece 4.27.1–11Refounding of Messene: Gonippus and Panormus, the oracles of Bacis and the city’s foundationPausanias explains the Dioscuri’s old anger at the Messenians through the Andanian youths Gonippus and Panormus, who attacked a Spartan festival dressed as the Dioscuri. He cites the oracles of Bacis about Messenia’s return, and describes Epaminondas’ founding of Messene with sacrifices and a call to the heroes, especially Aristomenes. The Messenians return after 297 years, and he compares their exile with other long exiles.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.18.1–9Athens: Dioscuri, Prytaneum, temple of Ilithyia and the OlympieumPausanias describes the sanctuary of the Dioscuri with paintings by Polygnotus and Micon, the precinct of Aglaurus and the story of Erichthonius’ chest, the Prytaneum, a sanctuary of Serapis and the temple of Ilithyia. He then turns to the sanctuary of Olympian Zeus, completed by Hadrian: the colossal image, the cleft where the flood waters of Deucalion’s time drained away, the statue of Isocrates, and Hadrian’s other buildings, including a temple of Hera and Panhellenian Zeus and a library.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.41.1–9Megara: tomb of Alcmena, the lion of Cithaeron and the tomb of TereusPausanias describes the tomb of Alcmena, the altar of Achelous, the tomb of Hyllus, and the temple of Apollo and Artemis built by Alcathous after he killed the lion of Cithaeron. He criticises the Megarian version of the story, arguing that Alcathous came after the fall of Megara in Nisus’ reign. He then lists the shrine of Pandion, the tomb of the Amazon Hippolyte and the barrow of Tereus, whom he places at Daulis rather than Megara.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.22.1–9Argos: sanctuaries of Hera and Latona, the Dioscuri, Hecate and the gymnasium of CylarabesSouth of the Latona sanctuary Pausanias describes the temple of Flowery Hera and the grave of the Sea-Women, the sanctuary of Pelasgian Demeter, a bronze vessel said to hold the bones of Tantalus, and the shrine of Poseidon of the Dashing Wave. He then lists the grave of Argus, the temple of the Dioscuri, the sanctuary of Ilithyia founded by Helen, and the temple of Hecate with images by Scopas, Polyclitus and Naucydes. He ends with the tomb of Sacadas and the gymnasium of Cylarabes.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3.26.1–11Thalamae, Pephnus, Leuctra, Cardamyle and Gerenia: the Machaon shrinePausanias describes the dream oracle of Ino near Thalamae, the islet of Pephnus where the Dioscuri were said to be born, and Leuctra, with its shrines of Aesculapius, Cassandra and Love and the Ithomatian Zeus found in a burnt wood. He then describes Cardamyle and Gerenia, with the tomb and sanctuary of Machaon, Mount Calathium and Alagonia, and explains why Eurypylus’ name is not spoken at Pergamus.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3.13.1–9Sparta: Carneus, the Dionysiades, and the hill of Argive HeraPausanias notes the tombs of Cynortas, Castor, Idas and Lynceus, a temple of the Saviour Maid and the worship of Domestic Carneus, with explanations of the Dorian worship of Carnean Apollo. He lists the image of Aphetaeus, the colonnaded square, the temple of Dionysus Colonatas with its women’s race, the shrine of Pleuron, the temples of Argive Hera and Protectress Hera on the hill, and the statue of the wrestler Hetoemocles.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3.14.1–10Sparta: the tombs of Pausanias and Leonidas, the Course and Plane-tree GroveWest of the market-place Pausanias lists the cenotaph of Brasidas, the theatre and the tombs of Pausanias and Leonidas, with annual speeches and games over them. He notes the graves of the Agid kings, the record of Chionis’ Olympic victories, the sanctuary of Thetis founded by Leandris, and shrines on and around the Course, where the youths run. He then describes Plane-tree Grove, surrounded by a moat, and the sacrifice of puppies to Enyalius before the boys’ mock battle.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3.16.1–11Sparta: the Leucippides, Lycurgus’ sanctuary and Artemis OrthiaPausanias describes the sanctuary of Hilaira and Phoebe, the egg said to be Leda’s, the Tunic where the women weave the garment for Apollo of Amyclae, and the house where the Dioscuri visited Phormio. He lists the shrines of Chilon and of the Athenians with Dorieus, and Lycurgus’ sanctuary and the graves nearby. He then argues that the wooden image of Artemis Orthia, in the Limnaeum, is the one brought from the Tauric land, and describes the scourging of the youths at her altar.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3.18.1–16Sparta to Amyclae: Ammon, Cnagian Artemis and the throne of ApolloPausanias lists images and shrines near the statues of Pausanias, including Athena Ophthalmitis, the sanctuary of Ammon and Cnagian Artemis, and then follows the road to Amyclae by the river Tiasa and the sanctuary of the Graces. At Amyclae he describes the tripods and dedications and Bathycles’ throne of the Amyclaean Apollo, listing its mythological reliefs on the front and underneath.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3.20.1–11Laconia: Therapne, Alesiae, Mount Taygetus and the road to ArcadiaPausanias describes the fountain Messeis, the Phoebaeum and the sanctuary of Earth-holding Poseidon, then Alesiae, Pharis, Bryseae, Mount Taletum and the sanctuary of Eleusinian Demeter. He explains how Helos gave its name to the Helots and mentions Lapithaeum, Dereum and Harplea. On the road to Arcadia he notes the image of Athena Parea, the Horse’s Tomb and the image of Modesty, set up by Icarius.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3.24.1–11Laconian coast: Zarax, Cyphanta, Brasiae, Las and HypsaPausanias describes Zarax, destroyed by Cleonymus, the grotto of Aesculapius at Cyphanta with its spring struck by Atalanta, and Brasiae, whose people say Semele and the infant Dionysus drifted there in a chest. He then describes Las, with its temple of Athena Asia, the fountain Galaco, the river Smenus and the grave of Las. He argues from Homer that Achilles cannot have been a suitor of Helen.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 4.16.1–10Second Messenian War: the battle of the Boar’s Grave and the raids of AristomenesAristomenes breaks the Spartan line at the Boar’s Grave but loses time over his lost shield at the wild pear-tree where the Dioscuri sit. He later recovers it through Trophonius’ oracle at Lebadea and dedicates it there. He raids Pharae, is driven back from Sparta itself by apparitions, and carries off maidens dancing at Caryae, whom he ransoms unharmed after killing the men who tried to violate them.

12 more passages of Pausanias that name Dioscuri

Epic Cycle (1)

Epic Cycle, Summaries and Fragments 5.1–38CypriaProclus' summary of the Cypria opens with Zeus planning the Trojan War with Themis, the quarrel of the three goddesses, Alexandrus, Helen and the gathering of the Greeks at Aulis. The fragments cover the earth burdened by men, the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, Helen's birth to Nemesis, Castor and Polydeuces, and Alexandrus carrying Helen to Ilium.