Pollux

Family: Gods · Role: son of Zeus · First appears: Euripides, Orestes — Scene 10

Pollux is a son of Zeus and the twin brother of Castor, with Helen as their sister. In Helen, he and Castor vanished from human sight and were reported dead, while Leda was said to have died and Tyndareus was questioned about the fate of his sons.

Later, after Zeus had made them gods, Pollux and Castor appeared as protectors of Helen, directing her and Menelaus to sail together and promising, “We your protectors / And your twin brothers, on our coursers borne / Over the waves, will guide you to your country.” At Ægypt’s realm, they commanded Theoclymenus to restrain his anger and spare Theonoe, and they told him that they had been unable to preserve Helen earlier because Fate and the immortal powers had ordained those events. After Helen’s life, she would become a goddess and share worship with Pollux and Castor.

Relationship record

Life events

• Castor and Pollux vanished from human sight and were reported dead.(Euripides, Helen — Scene 2)
  • With: Castor
  • “My illustrious brothers, Castor and Pollux, called the sons of Jove, Are now no more.”
• Castor and Pollux command Theoclymenus to restrain his anger and spare Theonoe.(Euripides, Helen — Scene 11 · 📍 Ægypt’s realm)
  • With: Castor Theoclymenus
  • “Restrain that ire that hurries thee away Beyond the bounds of reason, O thou king Of Ægypt’s realm”
• Castor and Pollux direct Helen and Menelaus to sail together toward their country.(Euripides, Helen — Scene 11)
  • With: Castor Helen Menelaus
  • “Sail with your husband, for a prosperous breeze Your voyage shall attend”
• Castor and Pollux promise to guide Helen and Menelaus across the waves.(Euripides, Helen — Scene 11)
  • With: Castor Helen Menelaus
  • “We your protectors And your twin brothers, on our coursers borne Over the waves, will guide you to your country”
• Helen will become a goddess and receive worship alongside Castor and Pollux.(Euripides, Helen — Scene 11)
  • With: Helen Zeus Castor
  • “But after you have finished life’s career, You shall be called a goddess, shall partake With us the rich oblations”

Euripides, Orestes — Scene 10

• parent: Zeus (Jove is normalized to Zeus.) “in conjunction with the Tyndaridæ, the sons of Jove”

Euripides, Iphigenia In Tauris — Scene 2

• definitional with Zeus
• definitional with Castor

Euripides, The Trojan Captives — Scene 7

• siblings with Helen “With what cries didst thou invoke Castor or Pollux, thy immortal brothers”
• siblings with Castor “With what cries didst thou invoke Castor or Pollux, thy immortal brothers”

Euripides, Helen — Scene 1

• parent: Tyndareus “But live the sons Of Tyndarus, or are they too now no more?”
• siblings with Helen “That on account of their lost sister’s guilt They died by their own swords.”

Euripides, Helen — Scene 2

• parent: Leda “Your mother is no more, through you unblest Are Jove’s twin sons.”
• parent: Zeus “Your mother is no more, through you unblest Are Jove’s twin sons.”
• siblings with Helen “My illustrious brothers, Castor and Pollux, called the sons of Jove, Are now no more.”
• siblings with Castor “The twin protectors of their native land, Castor and Pollux, from all human eyes Are vanished”

Euripides, Helen — Scene 11

• ward: Helen “We your protectors And your twin brothers, on our coursers borne Over the waves, will guide you to your country”
• parent: Leda “whom Leda bore Together”
• pupil: Theoclymenus “We long ere this our sister had preserved, Since Jove hath made us gods, but were too weak At once to combat the behests of Fate, And the immortal powers, who had ordained That these events should happen. This to thee, O Theoclymenus, I speak.”

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Extracted from the original text of Greek Tragedy. Made with Rho MD.