CASTOR, in Astronomy, a moiety of the constellation GEMINI; called also APOLLO. Its latitude northwards, for the year 1700, according to Hevelius, was ; and its longitude, of Cancer, . It is also called Rafalgenze, Apollo, Aphellian, Avellar, and Anelar.
CASTOR and POLLUX, in Pagan mythology. Jupiter having an amour with Leda, the wife of Tyndarus king of Sparta, in the form of a swan, she brought forth two eggs, each containing twins. From that impregnated by Jupiter proceeded Pollux and Helena, who were both immortal: from the other Castor and Clytemnestra, who being begot by Tyndarus were
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both mortal. They were all, however, called by the common name of Tyndaridae. These two brothers entered into an inviolable friendship; they went with the other noble youths of Greece in the expedition to Colchis, and on several occasions signalized themselves by their courage; but Castor being at length killed, Pollux obtained leave to share his own immortality with him; so that they are said to live and die alternately every day: for, being translated into the skies, they form the constellation of Gemini, one of which stars rises as the other sets.
A martial dance, called the Pyrrhic or Castorian dance, was invented in honour of those deities, whom the Cephelenes placed among the Dii Magni, and offered to them white lambs. The Romans also paid them particular honours on account of the assistance they are said to have given them in an engagement against the Latins; in which, appearing mounted on white horses, they turned the scale of victory in their favour, for which a temple was erected to them in the forum.
CASTOR and POLLUX, a fiery meteor, which at sea appears sometimes flicking to a part of the ship, in form of one, two, or even three or four fire-balls: when one is seen alone, it is more properly called Helena; two are denominated Castor and Pollux, and sometimes Tyndaridae. Castor and Pollux are called by the Spaniards, San Elmo; by the French St Elmo, St Nicholas, St Clare, St Helene; by the Italians, Heremo; by the Dutch, Tree Vuuren.
Castor and Pollux are commonly judged to portend a cessation of the storm, and a future calm; being rarely seen till the tempest is nigh spent. Helena alone portends ill, and witnesses the severest part of the storm yet behind. When the meteor sticks to the masts, yards, &c. they conclude, from the air's not having motion enough to dissipate this flame, that a profound calm is at hand; if it flutter about, it indicates a storm.