Good vs. Evil, Write vs. Wrong...

Is there really a difference?

The real temple was built in gratitude for victory at the battle of Lake Regillus (495 BC). Castor and Pollux (Greek Polydeuces) were the Dioscuri, the "twins" of Gemini, the twin sons of Zeus (Jupiter) and Leda. Their cult came to Rome from Greece via Magna Graecia and the Greek culture of Southern Italy.

The last king of Rome, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, and his allies, the Latins, waged war on the infant Roman Republic. Before the battle, the Roman dictator Aulus Postumius Albinus vowed to build a temple to the Dioscuri if Rome was victorious. According to legend Castor and Pollux appeared on the battlefield as two able horsemen in aid of the Romans. And, after the battle had been won they again appeared on the Forum in Rome watering their horses at the Spring of Juturna thereby announcing the victory. The temple stands on the supposed spot of their appearance. Postumius’s son finished the temple in 484 BC.

In Greek mythology, the Dioskouroi (Διόσκουροι), Kastor and Polydeukes (Κάστωρ και Πολυδεύκης), in Roman mythology the Gemini (Latin, "twins") or Castores, Castor and Pollux, are the twin sons of Leda and the brothers of Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra. Castor means "beaver" in both Greek and Latin, and poludeukeis means "very sweet". In the myth the twins shared the same mother but had different fathers which meant that Pollux was immortal and Castor was mortal. When Castor died, Pollux asked Zeus to keep them together and they were transformed into the Gemini constellation.

The lost Cypria explained the terms of their joint immortality as a gift of Zeus. In Odyssey, Homer renders the paradox: both buried now in the life-giving earth though still alive.
Even under the earth Zeus grants them that distinction: one day alive, the next day dead, each twin by turns they both hold honours equal to the gods" (Thanks to Wikipedia for the above)

No matter what way you take any of this information - this version of the Temple can have an additional element providing you with more of a story if you wish it to or are open to it. In the Hollywood movie Face Off - the two brothers - Castor and Pollux Troy - one is good, one is evil -if you choose to see it that way.

I think most of us at one time or another see things like that - as either black or white, good or bad, yet somehow that is not fulfilling and we look for more depth. When we look for more we can see that the brothers shared a love for each other that dictated they both accept their behaviour, their gifts and their challenges.

Perhaps there is beauty in both if we can look past preconceived notions. I think this adds more depth to each character and provides more options for a story. How would you handle something like this? Would you make both sides into one person? A multiple personality? Or continue to explore as two - but show how there can be good from bad and bad from good etc.? Take out the stereotypical views and attitudes to see how the characters develop themselves. Do they sabotage each other or try to uplift each other - at their own expense perhaps?

Creating things outside the box can be a rich and rewarding exercise and may just create something that is entertaining and brilliant, far more than you could have ever imagined.

Photo credit: dfworks http://www.flickr.com/photos/12081660@N00/