Roman coin depicting Dioscuri

Roman coin, minted between 206-195 BCE, shows Castor and Pollux (also known as Dioscuri), twins whose deeds were celebrated in Greek mythology, incl. as participants of the Argonauts expedition.

In Rome, the cult of twins appeared in the 5th century BCE, when the construction of the temple of Castor and Pollux at the Forum Romanum was completed. It was an element of the oath (votum) of Aulus Postumius Albus Regillensis in exchange for the victory of Rome in the battle of Lake Regillus in 496 BCE, over the Latin League. According to Roman legend, the twins fought at the head of the Roman army, and then on horseback brought the news of victory back to Rome; this was considered a divine support to the Roman cause.