Vaenulike kaksikute positsioon etteantud teogoonilises struktuuris

• Main Author: Emily Lyle
• Format: Article
• Language: Estonian
• Published: Eesti Kirjandusmuuseum 2002-01-01
• Series: Mäetagused
• Online Access: http://www.folklore.ee/tagused/nr19/lyle.pdf

Comparative mythology needs to consider two parallel pairs of twins. One is the pair of antagonistic twins, the other the Ashvin pair of twins found in the Vedas. Often they are treated only as simply a pair, the personification of fertility and prosperity. One of them is the cattle-breeder-twin and the other horseman-twin. In Roman mythology, the Ashvin twins are Castor and Pollux; in the Jewish legend, Esav and Jacob. The topic of the first birth of the twins is more clearly treated in the versions of the antagonistic twins. E.g. the zervanistic god of light Ohrmazd and god of darkness Ahriman; in Roman mythology, Romulus and Remus. Characteristic of the story of the antagonistic twins is the argument over which will become the ruler, i.e. they are royal twins and their royal descent is as important in their identification as their antagonism. Thus, the theogony peaking with the birth of the antagonistic twins is only applicable in a society ruled by a king.