Brotherliness: Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Gemini is a northern constellation¹ between Cancer and Taurus, containing the stars Castor and Pollux, represented by twins sitting together. Gemini is the third sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters on or about May 21.

In ancient Greece, there was an amazing and fantastic story. The kind Queen Leda had two lovely sons who were not twins but looked the same. They were good brothers to each other and Leda was satisfied with this.

However, one day Greece was attacked by a huge monster and the princes called upon all the warriors² to kill this monster. The brave older brother killed the monster but was seriously injured. When the whole country celebrated³ his triumph, Leda comforted him by telling him the truth about his birth. He was not the son of the King and Queen but the Queen and Zeus. So, he was immortal⁴ and could not be injured. The older brother swore not to tell anyone the secret, not even his dear younger brother.

Unfortunately, due to competition, there was internal disorder⁵ among the warriors. They were divided into two groups and fought. The two princes went to control the situation and failed. In the midst of the violence, someone attempted to stab the older brother with a spear. The younger brother bravely rushed forward to protect his older brother, but was fatally wounded. In fact it was only the older brother who was immortal and was heartbroken by the death of his brother.

The older brother returned to heaven and begged Zeus to bring back his younger brother. Zeus frowned and said, “The only way is to give half of your life to him. But you will become an ordinary person and will die someday in the future.” The older brother agreed without hesitation⁶. He said his younger brother died for him and he would do the same for his brother. Zeus was moved by their fraternal love and created a constellation called Gemini.

星座起源的美丽传说：双子的情义

在遥远的希腊古国，有一个美丽动人的传说。温柔贤惠的丽达王妃有一对非常可爱的儿子，他们不是双生，却长得一模一样，而且两兄弟的感情特别深厚，丽达王妃觉得十分幸福。

但是有一天，希腊遭遇了一头巨大的野*的攻击，王子们召集了许多勇士去捕杀这头野*。其间，勇敢的哥哥杀死了野*，但是也受了伤。凯旋归来，举国欢庆的时候，丽达王妃为了安慰受伤的哥哥，偷偷向他吐露了实情。原来，哥哥并不是国王与王妃所生，而是王妃与天神宙斯的儿子。所以，他是神，拥有永恒的生命，任何人都伤害不了他。哥哥知道以后再三保证不会告诉任何人这个秘密，哪怕是他最亲爱的弟弟。 然而，不幸的是，勇士们因为争功而起了内乱，竟形成了两派，彼此看对方不顺眼。后来他们开始打了起来，场面一发不可收拾。两位王子立即赶去阻止，但是没有人肯先停手。就在混战之中，有人拿长矛刺向哥哥，弟弟为了保护哥哥，奋勇扑上，挡在哥哥的身前。结果，弟弟被杀死，哥哥痛不欲生。其实哥哥有永恒的生命又怎么会被杀死呢？只怪不知情的弟弟太爱他的哥哥了。

哥哥为此回到天上请求宙斯让弟弟起死回生。宙斯皱了皱眉头，说到：“唯一的办法是把你的生命力分一半给他，这样，他会活过来，而你也将成为一个凡人，随时都会死。”但是哥哥毫不忧郁的答应了。他说，弟弟可以为了哥哥死，哥哥为什么不能为了弟弟死呢？

宙斯听了非常感动，以兄弟俩的名义创造了一个星座，命名为双子座。