#divine twins

[nike-apteros]

The divine twins Artemis and Apollo 🏛🏹🏹☀️🌛🐕

[songs-of-the-east]

Turning of the Wheel: Summer Solstice traditions in Latvia

Photographed by Jānis Jusjukevičs and Ivo Kušķis

_______________________

Rooted in ancient pre-Christian nature worship, Latvia’s midsummer festival called "Līgo" or "Jāņi, historically honored the summer solstice figure Jānis.

Jānis is a complex and debated figure in Latvian mythology. Often mistakenly referred to as a deity of fertility and light, and additionally being linked to the Dieva Dēli - twin sons of the sky god found in Baltic and other Indo-European traditional beliefs (i.e. Ashvins in Hinduism). Unlike other deities of the Baltic pantheon, he appears almost exclusively in connection with the Midsummer festival, raising questions about his origins. Some scholars believe the name "Jānis" may be a later adaptation of John the Baptist, introduced during Christianization. However, the rituals associated with his festival, such as: bonfires, wreaths, fertility symbols, and even remnants of phallic cult practices, are unmistakably pre-Christian and rooted in ancient agrarian traditions.

During Jāņi rituals, villagers crowned with oak and wild herbs gather on hilltops, at dusk, to roll a flaming wheel downhill; a fiery symbol of the sun’s peak and its slow descent. This ritual, like the wreaths and Jāņi fires, invokes ancient hopes for protection, abundance, and harmony between sky, land, and spirit.

[aj-artjunkyard]

Hc: in the Riordanverse, neither divine twin is older. Bc of the fluidity and contradiction of myths (that the books acknowledge), both Artemis and Apollo fully remember being born first and think the other is just teasing them. Neither have ever considered for a moment that their sibling might be telling the truth

Most other gods have worked this out but the twins’ pettiest on-going drama is very funny. Everyone’s stoking the flames. Leto diplomatically claims she doesn’t remember

[devotedtomygods]

ARTEMIS AND APOLLON

Digital

I have a lot going on. I'm moving and I have to get a job (it's seriously not easy). So I haven't had much time to do anything, but here's a quick drawing of the Divine Twins!

[reno-matagot]

Malik Taus, the Peacock Angel (Shaitael, Deviant Art)

[kyussannn]

Uruha and Reita's friendship according to greek mythology - Διόσκουροι, the divine twin brothers

Before shock and repulsion slowly turned into a renewed craving for the GazettE's songs, music was completely banned for days.

What I did during that time was instead to go back listening to an italian podcast on greek mythology that I had lost track of a while back.

As some sort of bittersweet coincidence, the first episode that was due revolved around the Dioskouroi, the twins that later became rapresentatives of the Gemini constellation. These two brothers were given birth by the same mother, yet had different fathers: Pollux was born from the olympian god Zeus, thus was immortal, while Castor from the mortal king Tyndareus.

I'll quote and try to translate some excerpts following Castor's passing that made me think a lot of our beloved and inseparable twins:

Zeus' words of comfort, repeating to him how Castor, being the mortal son of Tyndareus, was destined to die sooner or later, bring no consolation to Pollux. The thought that his brother was now in Hades, alone, amidst the multitude of the Passed Ones, won't give him peace. Pollux seems to have lost interest in anything. He attends dinners, watches others dance, drinks with them but rarely joins their toasts. He is kind to everyone. He smiles, sure, but his smile is always sad. Then one day, with a firm step, he goes to his father, determined to ask him for a grace. "Father, do not let me outlive my brother." Zeus of the white thunderbolt, benevolent, welcomes this prayer. And in his exemplary foresight, he finds an admirable solution: (...) the king of the gods ensures that Pollux, losing his immortality, is able to share it with his brother. Thus, since that distant day, the two brothers spend time together again, finally reunited. They live one day in Olympus, enjoying the happiness of the immortals, and one day supporting each other in Hades, sighing together with those who are locked up there. As a reward for their crystalline brotherly love, Zeus eternalizes the image of the two wonderful brothers in the constellation called Gemini.

[looking-at-the-deiwos]

the Diwós Sūnū́

Or as I write it, the Diwós Sunú. Also simply called "the Divine Twins"

Diwós Sunú means "Sons of Dyéus". They are also known as the Ék̑winō (Horse-like), the Diwós Népote (Descendants of Dyéus), the Yéwone (Young Ones), etc.

They are great horse riders and warriors. Their fight, however, is to help and save those in need, be they gods or mortals. They are youthful and strong

This source, gives their individual names as Áusros and Wékʷsperos:

Áusros is the god of the morning star, a god of fertility and harvest. He is more peaceful and associated with cattle.

Wékʷsperos is the god of the evening star, a god of war and travel. He is more of a warrior, patron of riders, owners of horses, warriors and cavalrymen.

They are the sons of Dyéus and Apóm Népots with Ékwona, each of these gods fathering one of the twins.

As a pair, the Twins guide mankind, especially sailors, farmers, and riders, and may be prayed to for healing, fertility, and prosperity. They are divine rescuers from all sorts of immediate crises. They will be there in the midst of a hurricane. They are the closest deities to humanity, sometimes featured as sharing meals with us instead of receiving sacrifice.

They both are the consorts of the sun goddess Sáwol and they pull her chariot across the sky each day at her command

Offerings

Depictions or imagery of horses

Two horses

two horses' heads

two horseshoes

images of ocean waves with white peaks

Swan down, other water bird down

oats

Devotional acts

Riding or taking care of horses

Helping someone in need

Stand up for others

Work out or play a sport

Go sailing

Visit the sea or walk on the beach

Have a meal with friends

Associations

Horses

Sailors

Farmers

Youth

Sea

Athleticism

Swans

Abundance

Love

Healing

Oaths

St. Elmo's fire

Ash

the feasts of Yule and Litha

June and December

Sunday

Descendants in later pantheons

the Dioskouroi (Greek)

the Dioscuri (Roman)

the Ashvins (Vedic)

the Dieva dēli (Lithuanian)

Hengist and Horsa (Germanic)

Finally, here's their wikipedia page

[allgirlsareprincesses]

If it doesn't have to be romantic... E. T. - The Extra-Terrestrial.

Absolutely, I love this one! Most analyses of ET will lean into the Peter Pan parallels, which are totally valid, but if we get a little deeper into comparative mythology, I'd say there's a lot of Divine Twins going on. Some features of Divine Twins include:

mention of a female figure (their mother or their sister) - often this is a mother who releases the children into the wild, like Romulus and Remus whose mother placed them in a basket on the river bank to protect them

known by a single dual name or having rhymed/alliterative names

associated with horses

of astral nature, celestial, of the stars

magic healers, deities of fertility & life

ET's family (presumably his mother) loses him in the forest when they have to escape government agents, while Elliott's mother is largely absent due to the demands of being a single mother. Their names - ET and Elliott - are alliteratively similar, and they have a psychic connection so close that Elliott eventually starts to refer to himself as "we" as if he and ET are one person. As for the horse association, Elliott and his friends ride bikes as their steeds, using them to escape in a magical chase to return ET to his home in the stars. And of course, ET has the power to bring life to dead creatures and heal wounds, a power he effectively shares with Elliott through their connection.

Psychologically, the Divine Child always appears at moments of great change or renewal. Since Elliott's father left and his mother is largely absent, from his perspective he has been psychically orphaned. Without the guidance of his parents, he must discover his Divine Twin in order to mature and build a new life. This is the inner power, the missing piece of the whole that we all must find. Interestingly, in working together to rescue ET, Elliott rebuilds his relationship with his brother and sister, replacing the missing masculine and feminine influences in his life and forming a triad between the three of them. This triangle is a more stable family unit than the broken and bitter individuals we saw at the beginning. And in finding his Divine Twin in the heavens, one who as ET says will always be "right here" (pointing at his forehead), Elliott is connected to the wider world, finding his place in the community.

Thanks for the great ask!