POLLUX (brother of Castor)

During the expedition led by Jason, Pollux volunteered to fight King Amycus in a boxing match, having been the most angered by the challenge.^13,14,15 He stepped forward to act as the champion for his companions, slipping his head out of the way of a huge fist before striking Amycus on the elbow and killing him.^15,6,14 After defeating Amycus, Pollux was attacked by the Bebryces, but the chiefs of the Argo rescued him from the attackers.¹⁴ The Mariandyni formed an alliance with the heroes because of this victory over Amycus.¹⁶ Upon returning from Colchis, Pollux and Castor built a temple of Athena Asia.¹³

Pollux desired to become the husband of Helen, seeking her based on reports from others without having ever seen her beauty.¹⁷ Agamemnon wooed the woman for his brother Menelaus instead, and Polydeuces was a recipient of messages sent by Menelaus.^18,19 In a later conflict, Pollux and Castor marched against Aphidnae to retrieve Helen, taking possession of the city and leading Aethra away as a captive.⁵

He was also involved in a dispute over cattle, helping to steal animals belonging to Idas and Lynceus, for which he was caught in the act.²⁰ Polydeuces killed Lynceus during the conflict over cattle, and he later raised a trophy to celebrate his victory over Lynceus.^21,22

Pollux was married to one of the daughters of Leucippus, and Phoebe bore him a son named Mnesileus.^23,10 Zeus granted Polydeuces immortality by allowing him to alternate between the divine realm and the realm of the dead every other day, sharing this fate with his brother Castor.^10,8 Due to this divine arrangement, he holds the rank of a god and possesses the quality of being immortal.^4,24 As one of a pair of divine brothers, he assists all mortals, serving as a savior and deliverer for mariners and ships in storms.^11,25,2 He helps men who are in the midst of great danger and assists horses that are maddened during the bloody press of battle.²⁶ He acts as a guardian of the wide plains of Sparta and distributes fair luck in athletic games.²⁷ Despite his victories, he did not work insensate wrong on defeated opponents, showing a certain nobility in his conduct.⁶ He often set Alcidamas against himself, guiding his hands and moulding his arms, catching him up exultant and pressing his naked body to his breast.²⁸