Homer's Hymn to Castor and Pollux
The poem invokes Muses to sing of Castor and Pollux, sons of Leda and Zeus, who are depicted as divine saviors of sailors. When storms rage at sea, the Twins appear on yellow wings to calm the winds and waves, offering a safe omen that allows weary sailors to rest in peace.
By Percy Bysshe Shelley · Genre: Hymn, Classical Poetry · 252 words
First lines
Ye wild-eyed Muses, sing the Twins of Jove, / Whom the fair-ankled Leda, mixed in love / With mighty Saturn's Heaven-obscuring Child, / On Taygetus, that lofty mountain wild, / Brought forth in joy: mild Pollux, void of blame, / And steed-subduing Castor, heirs of fame. / These are the Powers who earth-born mortals save / And ships, whose flight is swift along the wave. / When wintry tempests o'er the savage sea / Are raging, and the sailors tremblingly / Call on the Twins of Jove with prayer and vow, / Gathered in fear upon the lofty prow, / And sacrifice with snow-white lambs,-the wind / And the huge billow bursting close behind, / Even then beneath the weltering waters bear / The staggering ship-they suddenly appear, / On yellow wings rushing athwart the sky, / And lull the blasts in mute tranquillity, / And strew the waves on the white Ocean's bed, / Fair omen of the voyage; from toil and dread / The sailors rest, rejoicing in the sight, / And plough the quiet sea in safe delight.
Genres
- Hymn — The opening calls on the Muses to sing of divine twins, whose protection of sailors is then recounted.
- Classical Poetry — The verse recounts the birth of Jove and Leda's twins on Taygetus and their divine rescue of storm-tossed ships.
Tags
hymn · classical mythology · greek gods · maritime safety · lyric poetry · divine intervention
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Homer's Hymn to Castor and Pollux is listed on Textopian as a poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley, dated Date unknown.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Percy Bysshe Shelley
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Hymn, Classical Poetry
- Length: 252 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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