The Dioscuri were the twin half-brothers Pollux and Castor. Though they shared the same mother, Pollux's father was the King of the gods, Zeus, while Castor's father was an earthly king of Sparta. Thus the dichotomy of Spirit/divine, and Flesh/material, is recognized
This type of dual-symbological (a
language of symbols, if you will), is present in the Gospels.
Luke showcases an interest in establishing John the baptist and Jesus as dual aspects of one another, both in their familial ties (cousins) and their births being prophesied. One, however, obviously represents the spiritual dynamic of the pair.
John, likewise, as John the Baptist states,
"He must increase, but I must decrease." There is also the conspicuous figure of
Didymus Judas Thomas, or
Twin Judas of the Twin. Another circumstantial reference of the twin motif occurs in the pseudo-Ignatian Second Epistle to John, wherein it states,
And in like manner I desire to see the venerable James, who is surnamed Just, whom they relate to be very like Christ Jesus in appearance, in life, and in method of conduct, as if he were a twin-brother of the same womb. They say that, if I see him, I see also Jesus Himself, as to all the features and aspect of His body.
Getting back to the Dioscuri, the myth runs that, [quoting from the wikipedia in full for context]
The cousins carried out a cattle-raid in Arcadia together but fell out over the division of the meat. After stealing the herd, but before dividing it, the cousins butchered, quartered, and roasted a calf.[11] As they prepared to eat, the gigantic Idas suggested that the herd be divided into two parts instead of four, based on which pair of cousins finished their meal first.[11] Castor and Pollux agreed.[11] Idas quickly ate both his portion and Lynceus' portion.[11] Castor and Pollux had been duped. They allowed their cousins to take the entire herd, but vowed someday to take revenge.[11]
Some time later, Idas and Lynceus visited their uncle's home in Sparta.[11] The uncle was on his way to Crete, so he left Helen in charge of entertaining the guests, which included both sets of cousins, as well as Paris, prince of Troy.[11] Castor and Pollux recognized the opportunity to exact revenge, made an excuse that justified leaving the feast, and set out to steal their cousins' herd.[11] Idas and Lynceus eventually set out for home, leaving Helen alone with Paris, who then kidnapped her.[11] Thus, the four cousins helped set into motion the events that gave rise to the Trojan War.
Meanwhile, Castor and Pollux had reached their destination. Castor climbed a tree to keep a watch as Pollux began to free the cattle. Far away, Idas and Lynceus approached. Lynceus, named for the lynx because he could see in the dark, spied Castor hiding in the tree.[11] Idas and Lynceus immediately understood what was happening. Idas, furious, ambushed Castor, fatally wounding him with a blow from his spear—but not before Castor called out to warn Pollux.[11] In the ensuing brawl, Pollux killed Lynceus. As Idas was about to kill Pollux, Zeus, who had been watching from Mt. Olympus, hurled a thunderbolt, killing Idas and saving his son.[11]
Returning to the dying Castor, Pollux was given the choice by Zeus of spending all his time on Mount Olympus or giving half his immortality to his mortal brother. He opted for the latter, enabling the twins to alternate between Olympus and Hades.[12][13] The brothers became the two brightest stars in the constellation Gemini ("the twins"): Castor (Alpha Geminorum) and Pollux (Beta Geminorum). As emblems of immortality and death, the Dioscuri, like Heracles, were said to have been initiated into the Eleusinian mysteries.[j]
Though quick, there is a neat little parallel here to the
Gospel of John. The mortal Castor climbs into a tree and is struck by a spear. And though this summary says that Castor was dying, I have read other commentators say that he was in fact dead, and the Pollux had to give half of his immortality to resurrect him. Not saying that there is a direct take way from this, just something to point out.
Anyway, getting back to the Dioscuri. Another pair of twins that were venerated in the early centuries of the Christian era were Cautes and Cautopates, the twin torch bearers for Mithras. Interpretations and opinions vary as to what the two actually represented. Some consider them to be only followers of Mithras; while others assume that they are in fact aspects of Mithras.
Cautes and Cautopates flank a tropian that a man appears to be bound to at the base.
The heads of Cautes, Mithras and Cautopates are placed on a tree
This brings us to the
boanerges, the brothers Zebedee, James and John.
James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder)
A weird fact to consider about this title the Marcan author gives to James and John is that he 1)never follows through or reveals what relevance this has, and 2) he writes as if those reading already know of its significance and so didn't feel the need to elaborate further.
So why are James and John give this special distinction, "
Sons of Thunder", above the other Apostles? Even Simon, who is given the name
Peter/Petra, i.e.
Rock.
Matthew 20:20-28 may give a clue,
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Both brothers are ready and willing to die for their lord. Notice how the other Apostles become "
indignant at the two brothers".
Here, there is a split of traditions. The most common tradition has James suffering death while John lives until the End Times (again, the motif of one dying and the other surviving), while a very tenuous tradition preserved only in a commentary on Papias states that both brothers did die, and at roughly the same.
[
I would also like to add here the detail in Matthew, where the brothers are called to drink from the same cup as Jesus. The death of the brothers Julian and Pappos is described poetically as them not drinking from glass coloured goblets anymore.]