In Greek and Roman mythology, Castor and Pollux (in Greek, Kástōr and Polydeúkēs - Κάστωρ καὶ Πολυδεύκης) were the twin sons of Lēda and Zeus/Tyndareus, the brothers of Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra and the half-brothers of Timandra, Phoebe, Heracles and Philonoe. They are known collectively in Greek as the Dioskouroi or Dioscuri (Διόσκουροι), "sons of Zeus", and in Latin as the Gemini ("twins") or Castores.

Castor means "beaver" in both Greek and Latin, and polydeukes means "much sweet wine".

Back in the day my mother shopped like Castor and Pollux...or Noah stocking the wardrobe in the ark...things often entered the house in twos. The theory was that when a beloved item wore out its brand new twin would be waiting in the closet ready to be worn...in reality, however, the pieces that she bought were so well made that they never really needed to be replaced. Which is why...long after they were purchased by dear mama...I have two Mulberry mackintoshes...two marled Joseph sweaters...and two Mulberry duffle coats...packed away in storage.

It's also why I'm generally wary of buying multiples of the same piece...slightly variations on a theme are fine (as evinced by the numerous variations on the Breton top theme folded on my shelves)...but the same item, never. Well...almost never...Frye's black leather Chelsea boots have turned into such a wardrobe staple that I fell prey to the drunken beaver and bought their distressed suede brethren. As the DB himself might say, "Oh dam! Dam! Dam!"