Bird Gods in Ancient Europe 



mother of Castor, Pollux and Helena, the 

 mixture of moon and bird is different in 

 arrangement, but the analogy is clear enough 

 to show that the Finnish-Esthonian and the 

 Greek myths sprang from some original root. 

 Leda's mortal husband is a bird too ; Tunda- 

 reos (from a root like that of Latin tundo, to 

 strike) is our old friend Picus the woodpecker. 

 Moreover the career of Castor and Pollux, 

 the Di-oscuri or darkness gods on whom 

 Greek and Roman soldiers called in battle, 

 show that they are male counterparts of the 

 Valkyrs or female conductors of the souls that 

 perish in war, true sons of the swan and moon 

 goddess Leda. 



Leukippos (white horse) had two daughters, 

 Phoebe (brightness) and Ilaeira (joyfulness), 

 who were to marry Idas (sight) and Lynceus 

 (light) the sons of Aphareus (aphar swift). 

 But Castor and Pollux came to the wedding 

 and carried off the brides : the powers of night 

 defeated the sons of day. 



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