Mythical Twins Castor and Pollux Statues in Turin

The entrance to Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) in Turin Italy, is guarded by the statues of two mythical twins, Castor and Pollux of Greek mythology. The statues looked majestic in spite of their worn off green color. These statues were installed here in 1841, made by an Italian sculptor Abbondio Sangiorgio.

Statues of Twin Brothers Castor and Pollux in Turin

Castor and Pollux Statues Turin

Local legend around this twin is that the twins Castor and Pollux watch over the border between the ‘sacred’ (white magic) and ‘diabolical’ (black magic) halves of the city. (If you believe in that sort of things.)

Statue of Castor in Turin

Turin is a point on  Triangle of white magic triangle. Other points being in Prague and Lyon.

According to many, Turin forms part of both a black magic triangle, and a white magic triangle: the former with London and San Francisco, the latter with Prague and Lyon. These triangles are said to give Turin its magic, with the white triangle representing ‘good’ and the black triangle representing ‘evil’. Others believe Turin derives much of its power from the differing energies of the two rivers that inhabit it – the Po and the Dora Riparia.

Statues of Twin Brothers Castor and Pollux

The equestrian statues represent Castor and Pollux, the Dioscuri twins of Greek and Roman mythology and of the zodiac sign Gemini.

In Rome and Greece many temples venerated them. In 495 BC, after victory in battle, the Temple of Castor and Pollux was constructed in Rome. They were honored in Rome thereafter and feature on many of their ancient coins.

When Castor was slain in battle, Pollux begged his father, Jupiter, to let him follow Castor into the underworld. Moved by Pollux’s love for his twin, Jupiter instead decided the two would share the fate of life and death by spending one day under the earth and the next in the heavenly abodes. Here in Turin, they guard an invisible line where the sacred and diabolical parts of the city meet.

Statue of Pollux in Turin

Pollux Mythical twins

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