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Bible Encyclopedias
Dioscuri
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (Διόσκουροι . i.e., Jove's boys, "Castor and Pollux," Acts 28:11), the twin sons of Jupiter by Leda (Homer, Hymn, 17; Hygin. Fab. 77; according to Homer, Odyss. 11:297, the sons of Leda and Tyndareus). They were chiefly invoked by the Greek and Roman sailors as tutelary deities of mariners, and also worshipped by propitiatory offerings (Theocritus, Id. 22:17; Catull. lxviii. 65; Lucian, Deor. dial. 26:2). In the heavens they were twin stars, regarded as auspicious (comp. σωτῆρες, Homer, Hymn, 33:6; Elian, Var. Inst. 1:30; "lucidum sidus," Diodor. Sic. 4:43; Ovid, Fasti, 5:720). They were sometimes thought to appear in a delivering flame at the masthead during storms (Plutarch, Placit. Philos. 2:18). Their image formed the "figure-head" of the Alexandrian vessel (giving name to it) in which Paul sailed from Melita to Rome (Acts 18:11). Compare (See SHIP). See Scheffer, De nilit. navali vett. page 372 sq.; Ensched, De tutelis et insignib. nav. (L. B. 1771); Hasmeus, De navib. Alexand. apostolum in Ital. deferentibus (Brem. 1716); Kunz, De vexillo navis Alex. (Jen. 1734). Comp. (See CASTOR (AND POLLUX).)
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Dioscuri'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/d/dioscuri.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
