Evidence
Each row links back to the complete public-domain source text and the structured extraction record.
| Tradition | Source | Passage | Confidence | Evidence | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roman | The Aeneid of Virgil | PREFACE / THE AENEID / BOOK FIRST / THE COMING OF AENEAS TO CARTHAGE; lines 317-400 | high | Jupiter foretells Ascanius/Iülus's rule, the move to Alba Longa, three hundred years of rule, Ilia's twin offspring from Mars, and Romulus, nursed by a she-wolf, naming the Romans. | record |
| Roman | The Aeneid of Virgil | BOOK SEVENTH / THE LANDING IN LATIUM, AND THE ROLL OF THE ARMIES OF ITALY / BOOK EIGHTH / THE EMBASSAGE TO EVANDER; lines 5518-5602 | medium | The shield depicts the she-wolf in Mars’ green cave with twin boys at her teats, playing as she strokes and shapes them with her tongue. | record |
| Celtic Irish | Gods and Fighting Men | CHAPTER XIII. HIS CALL TO CONNLA / CHAPTER XIV. TADG IN MANANNAN'S ISLANDS / CHAPTER XV. LAEGAIRE IN THE HAPPY PLAIN / BOOK FIVE: THE FATE OF THE CHILDREN OF LIR; lines 5034-5139 | medium | Aobh bears Fionnuala and Aodh, then Fiachra and Conn, and dies at the birth of the second pair; Lir is nearly overcome with grief except for his love of the children. | record |
| Comparative | The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion (Vol. 2 of 2) | CONTENTS / NOTE. OFFERINGS OF FIRST-FRUITS. / INDEX. / FOOTNOTES; lines 12820-12959 | medium | The Italmens of Kamchatka made a grass wolf figure at the close of the fishing season, kept it all year, and believed it wedded maidens and prevented twin births; twins were considered a great misfortune. | record |
| Greek | Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, and Homerica | THE GREAT WORKS / THE IDAEAN DACTYLS / THE THEOGONY / THE CATALOGUES OF WOMEN AND EOIAE1701; lines 3421-3527 | high | The two sons of Actor and Molione are said to have Poseidon as father and are described as twins with two joined bodies. | record |
| Greek | Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, and Homerica | THE THEOGONY / THE CATALOGUES OF WOMEN AND EOIAE1701 / II. 1745 / THE SHIELD OF HERACLES; lines 4322-4408 | medium | Alcmena, subject in love to a god and a mortal man, bears twin sons in Thebes: mighty Heracles by Zeus and Iphiclus by Amphitryon; the brothers differ in spirit and strength. | record |
| Greek | Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, and Homerica | XIV. TO THE MOTHER OF THE GODS / XV. TO HERACLES THE LION-HEARTED / XVI. TO ASCLEPIUS / XVII. TO THE DIOSCURI; lines 7146-7162 | medium | The Muse is asked to sing of Castor and Polydeuces, the Tyndaridae, who sprang from Olympian Zeus; Leda bore them beneath Taygetus after the Son of Cronos privately bent her to his will. | record |
| Greek | Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, and Homerica | XXX. TO EARTH THE MOTHER OF ALL / XXXI. TO HELIOS / XXXII. TO SELENE / XXXIII. TO THE DIOSCURI; lines 7436-7453 | high | “Bright-eyed Muses, tell of the Tyndaridae, the Sons of Zeus,” including Castor and Polydeuces, children of Leda. | record |
| Greek | Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, and Homerica | THE STORY OF OEDIPUS / THE THEBAID / THE EPIGONI / THE CYPRIA; lines 7708-7815 | medium | Castor and Polydeuces are caught stealing cattle from Idas and Lynceus; Castor dies, Polydeuces kills the opponents, and Zeus grants alternating immortality. | record |
| Greek | Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, and Homerica | THE STORY OF OEDIPUS / THE THEBAID / THE EPIGONI / THE CYPRIA; lines 7817-7923 | high | Castor is mortal and destined for death; Polydeuces is immortal. | record |
| Greek | The Iliad | THE FIFTH BATTLE AT THE SHIPS; AND THE ACTS OF AJAX. / BOOK XVI. / ARGUMENT / THE SIXTH BATTLE, THE ACTS AND DEATH OF PATROCLUS; lines 16202-16341 | high | Apollo descends from Mount Ida, carries Sarpedon from battle under a cloud to the Simois, bathes and dresses his body, renews him with ambrosial dews, and Sleep and Death carry him to Lycia for honors. | record |
| Greek | The Iliad | THE ACTS OF DIOMED. / BOOK VI. / ARGUMENT. / THE EPISODES OF GLAUCUS AND DIOMED, AND OF HECTOR AND ANDROMACHE.; lines 6791-6915 | medium | Euryalus kills two young twin sons of Bucolion and a naiad; their parentage in secret woods is recounted, and the victor strips their shining arms. | record |
| Islamic | The Koran (Al-Qur'an) | SECTION III / SECTION IV. / SECTION V. / OF CERTAIN NEGATIVE PRECEPTS IN THE KORN.; lines 6226-6276 | low | Wasla is explained through multiple variants involving repeated births, twins, male and female offspring, the phrase that a female is joined to her brother, milk restrictions, consecration, sacrifice, sparing, and gendered use. | record |
| Hindu | Maha-bharata | CONDENSED INTO ENGLISH VERSE / THE EPIC OF ANCIENT INDIA / BOOK I / ASTRA DARSANA; lines 121-264 | high | Introductory prose identifies Pandu and Dhrita-rashtra, the Pandava brothers, Duryodhan, Karna, the divine fathers of major heroes, and the Arjun-Karna rivalry, explicitly compared to Achilles and Hector. | record |
| Roman | The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books I-VII | EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 10504-10595 | high | Orithyïa becomes wife of Boreas and mother of twins; Calaïs and Zethes later grow wings on their sides and join the Minyæ on the first ship to seek the Golden Fleece. | record |
| Roman | The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books I-VII | EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 10625-10637 | medium | Apollodorus and Pausanias are said to treat the story as historical: Boreas, king of Thrace, seized Orithyia, daughter of Erectheus and sister of Procris, as she passed the river Ilissus and carried her to his dominions. | record |
| Roman | The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books I-VII | BOOK THE FIFTH. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 8420-8517 | medium | The Palici are two brothers, sons of Jupiter and Thalea; their name is linked with coming again to life; Thalea prayed for the earth to hide her from Juno, and the Palici later burst from the ground in Sicily. | record |
| Roman | The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV | BOOK THE NINTH. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 2748-2841 | high | The passage offers rationalizing explanations for the divine paternity story, cites Seneca, says Jupiter lengthened the night to three or nine nights, and notes a twin-birth variant with Iphiclus son of Amphitryon and Hercules son of Jupiter. | record |
| Roman | The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV | BOOK THE NINTH. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 3008-3100 | medium | Hercules is presented as a hero whose noble qualities are divine in origin, son of the king of the Gods by a mortal mother, with a twin brother born from a mortal sire. | record |
| Roman | The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV | EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 5476-5534 | medium | Seven egg-shaped ova counted the seven rounds of a Roman circus race; their egg form honored Castor and Pollux, who were said to have been produced from eggs. | record |
| Roman | The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV | EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 6347-6418 | high | Chione, Daedalion's beautiful daughter, is seen by Phoebus and the son of Maia, both of whom desire her; the son of Maia uses a sleep-causing wand, and Phoebus later comes disguised as an old woman at night. | record |
| Greek/Roman | Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome | RHEA (OPS). / DIVISION OF THE WORLD. / THEORIES AS TO THE ORIGIN OF MAN. / THIRD DYNASTY--OLYMPIAN DIVINITIES.; lines 1081-1171 | high | Zeus appears to Antiope in the form of a satyr; Antiope is identified as daughter of Nicteus, king of Thebes. | record |
| Greek/Roman | Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome | RHEA (OPS). / DIVISION OF THE WORLD. / THEORIES AS TO THE ORIGIN OF MAN. / THIRD DYNASTY--OLYMPIAN DIVINITIES.; lines 1081-1171 | medium | Leda is won by Zeus in swan form; her twin sons Castor and Pollux are known for mutual attachment and physical accomplishments. | record |
| Greek/Roman | Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome | RETURN OF THE GREEKS FROM TROY. / PRONOUNCING INDEX. / A COMPLETE COURSE IN THE STUDY OF ENGLISH. / NOTES; lines 11638-11773 | high | Castor and Pollux are called the Dioscuri, from words glossed as gods and youths. | record |
| Greek/Roman | Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome | MOIRAE OR FATES (PARCAE). / NEMESIS. / NYX (NOX). / THANATOS (MORS) AND HYPNUS (SOMNUS).; lines 4562-4601 | high | Thanatos and Hypnus are twin brothers, children of Nyx, dwelling in the realm of shades; Thanatos is feared and hated by mortals, while Hypnus is loved and welcomed. | record |
| Greek/Roman | Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome | RHEA (OPS). / DIVISION OF THE WORLD. / THEORIES AS TO THE ORIGIN OF MAN. / THIRD DYNASTY--OLYMPIAN DIVINITIES.; lines 986-1079 | high | Zeus brings Leto to Delos, a floating Aegean island made stationary with adamant chains, where she gives birth to Apollo and Artemis. | record |
| Norse | Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas | CHAPTER XVIII: THE VALKYRS / CHAPTER XIX: HEL / L. E. R. / CHAPTER XXI: BALDER; lines 7325-7472 | high | Odin and Frigga have twin sons: Hodur, blind and dark, and Balder, radiant, pure, light-bearing, and loved by gods and men. | record |
| Norse | Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas | CHAPTER XXIII: THE GIANTS / CHAPTER XXIV: THE DWARFS / CHAPTER XXV: THE ELVES / CHAPTER XXVI: THE SIGURD SAGA; lines 9196-9315 | medium | At the wedding, Signy is dismayed by Siggeir but conceals her dislike; only her twin brother Sigmund suspects her reluctance. | record |
| Greek | The Odyssey | BOOK X / AEOLUS, THE LAESTRYGONES, CIRCE. / BOOK XI / THE VISIT TO THE DEAD.88; lines 4969-5068 | high | Tyro, daughter of Salmoneus and wife of Cretheus, loves the river Enipeus; Neptune disguises himself as her lover, meets her at the river mouth beneath a great blue wave, reveals himself, foretells twins, and orders secrecy. | record |
| Hindu | The Ramayan of Valmiki | BOOK I.(6) / OM.(8) / Canto III. The Argument. / Canto IV. The Rhapsodists.; lines 1402-1576 | high | Valmiki wonders who will tell the completed tale; Kusa and Lava arrive in hermit dress, are described as twin princely youths, and he teaches them the Ramayan. | record |
| Hindu | The Ramayan of Valmiki | Canto XII. The Sacrifice Begun. / Canto XIII. The Sacrifice Finished. / Canto XV. The Nectar. / Canto XIX. The Birth Of The Princes.; lines 3510-3648 | medium | Kaikeyī bears Bharata, one fourth of Viṣṇu manifest; Sumitrā bears Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna, who share Viṣṇu's essence; additional lunar and zodiacal details accompany the births. | record |
| Hindu | The Ramayan of Valmiki | CAREY AND MARSHMAN. / SCHLEGEL. / GORRESIO. / HIPPOLYTE FAUCHE.; lines 57839-57896 | medium | Sita is honourably received by Valmiki; holy women serve her; in the retreat she gives birth to Kusa and Lava, who are raised and taught by Valmiki to recite the Ramayana. | record |
| Hindu | The Ramayan of Valmiki | SCHLEGEL. / GORRESIO. / HIPPOLYTE FAUCHE. / ADDITIONAL NOTES.; lines 58315-58446 | high | That night Sita bears two royal children; Valmiki performs rites for them, names them Kusa and Lava, teaches them Vedic lore, and trains them to sing his poem of Rama's deeds. | record |
| Hindu | The Ramayan of Valmiki | H. H. WILSON. / THE SUPPLIANT DOVE. / INDEX OF PRINCIPAL NAMES / FOOTNOTES; lines 62216-62330 | high | The twin sons of Rama and Sita are described as born after Rama repudiated Sita, brought up in Valmiki's hermitage, and the first rhapsodists. | record |
| Hindu | The Ramayan of Valmiki | H. H. WILSON. / THE SUPPLIANT DOVE. / INDEX OF PRINCIPAL NAMES / FOOTNOTES; lines 62565-62694 | medium | The twin children of the Sun are identified as physicians of Swarga or Indra’s heaven. | record |
| Hindu | The Ramayan of Valmiki | H. H. WILSON. / THE SUPPLIANT DOVE. / INDEX OF PRINCIPAL NAMES / FOOTNOTES; lines 62696-62815 | high | The Aśvins are twin divine Horsemen, compared with the Dioscuri, possibly astronomical as morning and evening stars, children of the sun and Aśvinī, and physicians of the gods. | record |
| Hindu | The Ramayan of Valmiki | H. H. WILSON. / THE SUPPLIANT DOVE. / INDEX OF PRINCIPAL NAMES / FOOTNOTES; lines 62942-63076 | medium | The Heavenly Twins are identified in a brief note. | record |
| Hindu | The Ramayan of Valmiki | INDEX OF PRINCIPAL NAMES / FOOTNOTES / ILIAD. XVII. 426. / GORRESIO.; lines 64295-64428 | high | “The Aśvins or Heavenly Twins, the Dioskuri or Castor and Pollux of the Hindus.” | record |
| Hindu | The Ramayan of Valmiki | FOOTNOTES / ILIAD. XVII. 426. / GORRESIO. / MACBETH.; lines 65152-65262 | high | The Aśvins are the Heavenly Twins and are compared to Castor and Pollux. | record |
| Hindu | The Ramayan of Valmiki | FOOTNOTES / ILIAD. XVII. 426. / GORRESIO. / MACBETH.; lines 65705-65848 | high | “The Heavenly Twins, the Castor and Pollux of the Hindus.” | record |
| Maya/Kiche | The Popol Vuh | The Second Book, Hero Twins in Xibalba | high | Hun-Came and Vukub-Came hear the twins at ball and decide to lure them to the Underworld as they lured their fathers. | record |
| Mesopotamian | An Old Babylonian Version of the Gilgamesh Epic | PENNSYLVANIA TABLET, TRANSLATION, Col. I-Col. III | medium | Some one, O Gish, who like thee / In the field was born and / Whom the mountain has reared | record |