Thestius

Thestius is a figure from Greek mythology, primarily known as the father of two heroes, Castor and Pollux, collectively known as the Dioscuri. He was the husband of Leda, a queen of Sparta.

According to most accounts, Thestius was the king of Pleuron in Aetolia. His lineage is varied in different myths, sometimes being described as the son of Ares or of Portheus. Thestius was also the father of several daughters, including Hilaira, Phoebe, and Clytemnestra, though the latter's parentage is often attributed to Leda's union with Zeus.

Thestius's role in the myths of his sons is often secondary to that of their divine father, Zeus, who is said to have fathered Pollux (and sometimes Castor) after appearing to Leda in the form of a swan. Despite this, Thestius is acknowledged as their mortal parent. The Dioscuri were renowned for their equestrian skills and their adventures, including their participation in the Calydonian Boar Hunt and their rescue of Helen of Troy.

The name Thestius itself suggests a connection to "the aisthesis," meaning "perception" or "feeling," though the symbolic significance of this is not explicitly detailed in the myths. The story of Thestius and his family highlights the complex interweaving of divine and mortal parentage common in Greek mythology.