Another example of this strong bond shared between twins is the Ibeji twins from African mythology. In an aboriginal tale, the same constellation represents the twin lizards who created the plants and animals and saved women from evil spirits. This etymologically explains why their constellation, the Dioskouroi or Gemini, is only seen during one half of the year, as the twins split their time between the underworld and Mount Olympus. This brothers were said to be born from an egg along with either sister Helen and Clytemnestra. Castor's father is Tyndareus, the king of Sparta (hence the mortal form). This phenomenon is a very common interpretation of twin births across different mythological cultures. Even though the brothers are twins, they have two different fathers.
Their mother is Leda, a being who was seduced by Zeus who had taken the form of a swan. Castor and Pollux are the Dioscuri twin brothers. In Greek mythology, Castor and Pollux share a bond so strong that when mortal Castor dies, Pollux gives up half of his immortality to be with his brother. Twins in mythology also often share deep bonds. This applies to both mortal and immortal sets of twins, and often is related to power over the weather. Twins are often depicted with special powers. However, twins can also reflect a complete opposition of the other, such as the "civilized" Gilgamesh, and the "wild" Enkidu or in the commonly known instance of good and evil twin identities. They can represent another aspect of the self, a doppelgänger, or a shadow. They can be seen as representations of a dualistic worldview. Twins in mythology are often cast as two halves of the same whole, sharing a bond deeper than that of ordinary siblings, or seen as fierce rivals. In some cultures they are seen as ominous, and in others they are seen as auspicious. Twins appear in the mythologies of many cultures around the world. A pair of early 20th-century female ere ibeji twin figures ( Children’s Museum of Indianapolis)
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