kastor

Kastor is the German form of Castor and is used to refer to several distinct topics in myth, astronomy, and modern naming.

In Greek mythology, Kastor and Polydeukes (Pollux) are the Dioscuri, twin brothers born to Leda. Their parentage varies by tradition: Kastor is often described as mortal, the son of Tyndareus, while Polydeukes is immortal, the son of Zeus. The brothers are associated with horses and sailors and figure prominently among the Argonauts. After Kastor’s death, Polydeukes pleaded with Zeus to share his own immortality, and the gods placed the brothers in the heavens as the constellation Gemini.

In astronomy, Kastor (Castor) designates the brighter star in the Gemini constellation, Alpha Geminorum. Castor is not a single star but a multiple-star system, consisting of two or more closely bound stellar pairs. It forms one of the two “heads” of Gemini, with Pollux (Beta Geminorum) functioning as the other, and it is a prominent feature in the night sky of the northern hemisphere.

As a modern name, Kastor appears as a given name or surname in various cultures, notably in German-speaking regions where Kastor is used as the local form of Castor. The name also appears in literature, media, and historical references where Greek myth or astronomy provides thematic context.