THE YALE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 5 0 ( 1 9 7 7 ) , 30 7 -31 9

Why The He a l i n g Go d s Ar e Tw i n s
LEON D. HANKOFF
Mi s e r i c o r d i a Ho s p i t a l Me d i c a l Ce n t e r , Br o n x , Ne w Yo r k
Re c e i v e d Oc t o b e r 1 9 , 1 9 7 7
The a s s o c i a t i o n o f t w i n s w i t h he a l t h-g i v i n g p o w e r s i s w i d e s p r e a d i n m yt ho l o g y, f o l k l o r e , a n d r e l i g i o n . The
As hv i n s o f t he Ri g -V e d a , t he c l a s s i c a l Di o s c u r i , a n d t he e a r l y Chr i s t i a n s a i n t s Co s m o s a n d Da m i a n a r e
a m o n g t he m a n y e x a m p l e s o f t w i n s d i v i n e l y e m p o w e r e d i n t he a r e a o f he a l t h a n d f e r t i l i t y. A c ha r a c t e r i s t i c s e t
o f a t t r i b u t e s o f t w i n s r e c u r s i n d i f f e r e n t m yt ho l o g i e s o f w i d e d i s t r i b u t i o n . In a d d i t i o n t o he a l i n g , d i v i n e t w i n s
a r e o f t e n e m p o w e r e d w i t h t he a b i l i t y t o r e v i v e t he d e a d , i n c r e a s e t he f e r t i l i t y o f m a n , a n i m a l s , a n d c r o p s ,
i n f l u e n c e t he w e a t he r , p r e d i c t t he f u t u r e , a n d i n s u r e v i c t o r y i n b a t t l e . In s o m e t r a d i t i o n a l s o c i e t i e s t he s e
s p e c i a l a t t r i b u t e s a r e t ho u g ht t o e x t e n d t o a l l o f t he t w i n s a n d t he i r p a r e n t s i n t he t r i b e .
An c i e n t a n d p r i m i t i v e s o c i e t i e s s u p p o s e d t ha t t he b i r t h o f t w i n s w a s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h d i v i n e i n f l u e n c e , t he
m o t he r ha v i n g b e e n v i s i t e d o r o t he r w i s e a f f e c t e d b y s u p e r n a t u r a l p o w e r s . A f r e q u e n t e x p l a n a t i o n w a s t ha t
t w i n s w e r e t he r e s u l t o f s u p e r f e t a t i o n , a d i v i n e i m p r e g n a t i o n o c c u r r i n g a l o n g w i t h t ha t b y t he l a w f u l hu s b a n d .
The s p e c i f i c p o w e r s o f d i v i n e t w i n s a p p e a r t o b e a r e f l e c t i o n o f t he p a r t i c u l a r f o r m o f o r i g i n o f t w i n s t hr o u g h
d i v i n e i n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h t he f e r t i l i z a t i o n p r o c e s s . The t w i n s t hu s s ha r e s o m e o f t he p o w e r s o f t he d i v i n e p a r e n t ,
p a r t i c u l a r l y t ho s e p e r t a i n i n g t o f e r t i l i t y. The i r d u a l p a t e r n i t y a n d i t s i n he r e n t c o m p e t i t i o n i s r e l a t e d t o t he i r
m a r t i a l i n t e r e s t s a s w e l l a s t he i r a b i l i t y t o r e s o l v e a m b i v a l e n t o r a m b i g u o u s s i t u a t i o n s a n d p r e d i c t o u t c o m e s .
Ye g a v e t o Ka l i , w he n he ha d g r o w n o l d i n ye a r s ,
To hi m , t he s i n g e r , a l l hi s yo u t hf u l s t r e n g t h a g a i n ;
An d V a n d a n a ye r e s c u e d f r o m t he d e e p a b ys s ,
An d q u i c k l y V i c p a l a t he m a i m e d ye m a d e t o w a l k [ 1 ] .
It ha s l o n g b e e n n o t e d i n f o l k l o r e , m yt ho l o g y, a n d r e l i g i o n , t ha t a p a i r o f d i v i n e o r
s a i n t l y t w i n s w e r e o f t e n a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t he he a l i n g a r t s . Thi s r e l a t i o n s hi p ha s
o c c u r r e d w i d e l y i n t i m e a n d p l a c e a n d ha s p o s e d a n i n t r i g u i n g f o l k l o r i s t i c p a t t e r n .
S i g e r i s t s t a t e s , f o r e x a m p l e , i n o b s e r v i n g t he w i d e l y d i s p e r s e d o c c u r r e n c e s o f s u p e r -
n a t u r a l t w i n s w i t h he a l i n g p o w e r s , t ha t n o v a l i d e x p l a n a t i o n f o r t hi s r e l a t i o n s hi p ha s
b e e n o f f e r e d [ 2 ] . The i n t e r e s t i n g q u e s t i o n a s t o t he m e a n i n g a n d o r i g i n o f t hi s
a s s o c i a t i o n b r i n g s t o g e t he r t he v i e w p o i n t s o f t he s e p a r a t e d i s c i p l i n e s o f t he s t u d y o f
m yt ho l o g y a n d t he hi s t o r y o f m e d i c i n e .
The he a l i n g p o w e r s o f t w i n s a r e t o b e f o u n d i n t he c o n t e x t o f a w i d e s p r e a d
f o l k l o r i s t i c p a t t e r n o f a t t r i b u t e s a n d p o w e r s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t w i n s [ 3] . It w i l l b e o f
v a l u e t o s u r v e y b r i e f l y t he t he m e s o f m yt h a n d f o l k l o r e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t w i n s i n o r d e r
t o f o c u s o n t he s p e c i f i c q u e s t i o n o f t he he a l i n g p o w e r s o f t w i n s . The b i r t h o f t w i n s a s
a n a t u r a l v a r i a t i o n o c c u r s i n f r e q u e n t l y e n o u g h ( o n e i n 8 0 t o 1 0 0 l i v e b i r t hs ) t o b e a
s o u r c e o f c u r i o s i t y a n d t o p r o v o k e t he o r i e s r e g a r d i n g t he i r o r i g i n . P e r ha p s m o s t b a s i c
i s t he f a c t t ha t t w i n s a r e a n a t u r a l a n d a v a i l a b l e s ym b o l i c r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t he
t e n s i o n s a n d f o r c e s i n m a n a n d n a t u r e . Tw i n s s e r v e t he i m a g i n a t i o n a s a s ym b o l f o r
p hi l o s o p hi c d u a l i t i e s a n d f o r m u l a t i o n s o n t he t he m e o f o p p o s i t e s a n d a s a m e t a p ho r
f o r b a l a n c e s a n d c o m p e t i n g f o r c e s . The m yt ho l o g i e s o f e v e r y c o n t i n e n t c o n t a i n t w i n
30 7
P l e a s e a d d r e s s r e p r i n t r e q u e s t s t o : Le o n D. Ha n k o f f , M. D. , Mi s e r i c o r d i a Ho s p i t a l Me d i c a l Ce n t e r , 6 0 0 Ea s t 2 33 S t r e e t ,
Br o n x , NY 1 0 4 6 6
Co p yr i g ht 1 9 7 7 b y The Ya l e Jo u r n a l o f Bi o l o g y a n d Me d i c i n e , In c .
Al l r i g ht s o f r e p r o d u c t i o n i n a n y f o r m r e s e r v e d .
g o d s , t w i n o f f s p r i n g o f g o d s , t w i n he r o e s , a n d o r d i n a r y m o r t a l t w i n s i n v a r i o u s s t o r y
c yc l e s . In a d d i t i o n t o f o l k l o r e a c c o u n t s , e v e r y s o c i e t y ha s i t s s p e c i a l p r a c t i c e s a n d
a t t i t u d e s t o w a r d t he b i r t h o f t w i n s .
In v i e w o f t he r e c u r r e n t f i n d i n g s i n f o l k l o r e a n d r e l i g i o n , w e m i g ht a s k i f w e a r e
d e a l i n g w i t h a u n i v e r s a l hu m a n p he n o m e n o n . Di r e c t c u l t u r a l t r a n s m i s s i o n c a n
a c c o u n t o n l y i n p a r t f o r t he w o r l d w i d e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f s i m i l a r t w i n f o l k l o r e f e a t u r e s .
Ev e r y c o n t i n e n t a n d e v e r y a n c i e n t s o c i e t y a p p e a r s t o ha v e t a k e n n o t e o f t w i n s a n d
d e v e l o p e d f o l k l o r e , m yt ho l o g y, o r l e g e n d i n r e l a t i o n t o t w i n s . On t he o t he r ha n d ,
d i r e c t c u l t u r a l t r a n s m i s s i o n i s a s i g n i f i c a n t f a c t o r i n s o m e a s p e c t s o f t w i n c u l t u r e . In
p a r t i c u l a r , a c u l t o f d i v i n e t w i n he a l e r s a p p e a r s i n a w i d e b e l t s t r e t c hi n g f r o m a n c i e n t
In d i a t o t he Me d i t e r r a n e a n . The v a r i o u s f e a t u r e s w hi c h a r e s i m i l a r a t m a n y p o i n t s i n
t hi s v a s t g e o g r a p hi c a l s w a t he p o i n t t o a c o m m o n r e l i g i o u s d e v e l o p m e n t i n t he a n c i e n t
w o r l d i n r e l a t i o n t o t w i n s a s a w o r s hi p f u l o b j e c t .
By f a r t he m o s t w e l l k n o w n t w i n s o f w e s t e r n m yt ho l o g y a r e t he Di o s c u r i , Ca s t o r
a n d P o l l u x ( P o l yd e u c e s ) , w ho s e s u p e r n a t u r a l p o w e r s i n c l u d e d t ho s e o f he a l i n g .
Ot he r t w i n s f i g u r e p r o m i n e n t l y i n Gr e e k m yt ho l o g y. The t w i n o f t he m i g ht y He r a c l e s
w a s Ip hi c l e s . The o f f s p r i n g o f t he i n c e s t u o u s u n i o n o f Oe d i p u s a n d Io c a s t e a r e t w i n s ,
Et e o c l e s a n d P o l yn e i c e s . Of p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t i n t he p r e s e n t c o n t e x t i s t he m yt hi c a l
he a l e r As c l e p i u s w ho ha d a t w i n Er i c t ho n i u s . As c l e p i u s w a s f a t he r e d b y t he g o d
Ap o l l o w hi l e hi s b r o t he r w a s t he r e s u l t o f a s e c o n d l i a i s o n b y hi s m o t he r w i t h a
m o r t a l . As c l e p i u s i n t u r n w a s f a t he r t o t w i n s , Ma c a o n a n d P o d a l e i r i u s , b o t h hi g hl y
s k i l l e d i n m e d i c a l a n d s u r g i c a l a r t s , w ho s e r v e d a s p hys i c i a n s t o t he Gr e e k s i n t he
Tr o j a n Wa r [ 4 ] .
Tw i n s a r e i m p o r t a n t i n n a t i v e Am e r i c a n m yt ho l o g y a n d f o l k l o r e [ 5 ] . No r t h
Am e r i c a n In d i a n s a s w e l l a s S o u t h Am e r i c a n , i n c l u d i n g P e r u v i a n a n d Am a z o n i a n
t r i b e s , a l l ha v e t w i n s i n s i g n i f i c a n t s e q u e n c e s i n t he i r m yt ho l o g i e s . In Ir o q u o i s a n d
Hu r o n In d i a n m yt ho l o g y a p a i r o f t w i n he r o e s a r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r o p p o s i n g g o o d a n d
b a d f o r m s o f n a t u r e [ 6 ] .
Ra d i n i n e x t e n s i v e s t u d i e s o f No r t h Am e r i c a n In d i a n m yt ho l o g y ha s p l a c e d t he
t w i n m yt hs a s t he l a s t p ha s e o f a s e q u e n c e i n he r o i c m yt ho l o g y [ 7 ] . Ut i l i z i n g t he
d e t a i l s o f t he Wi n n e b a g o c yc l e o f m yt hs Ra d i n d e l i n e a t e s a p r o g r e s s i o n t hr o u g h f o u r
e v o l v i n g p ha s e s : ( 1 ) t he t r i c k s t e r , a n u n d i f f e r e n t i a t e d p r i m o r d i a l f i g u r e ; 8 ( 2 ) a p a r -
t i a l l y b u t i m p e r f e c t l y d i f f e r e n t i a t e d i n d i v i d u a l , u s u a l l y t he ha r e ; ( 3) a m o r e d i f f e r e n -
t i a t e d Ol ym p i a n f i g u r e , c a l l e d Re d Ho r n ; a n d f i n a l l y ( 4 ) t he t w i n s , a P r o m e t he a n p a i r
w ho w a n d e r w i d e l y a t t e m p t i n g t o m a s t e r t he w o r l d a n d t o c ha n g e t he c o s m o s . The y
s u b s e q u e n t l y m e e t t he i r l i m i t s a n d e n d i n t r a g e d y. Ra d i n f e e l s t ha t t hi s g r o u p i n g o f
m yt hs i n a p r o g r e s s i v e s e q u e n c e i s t o b e f o u n d w i d e l y, e . g . , P o l yn e s i a n , Ja p a n e s e ,
Gr e e k , a n d Hi n d u m yt ho l o g i e s , a n d i s r e f l e c t i v e o f t he e v o l u t i o n o f p r i m i t i v e m a n ' s
t ho u g ht .
A hi g hl y d e t a i l e d t w i n s e q u e n c e ha s b e e n p r e s e r v e d i n t he r e c o r d o f t he c r e a t i o n
m yt hs o f t he Q u i c he n a t i o n o f t he p r e -Co l u m b i a n Ma ya n c u l t u r e o f s o u t he r n Me x i c o
[ 8 a ] . In t hi s i n t r i c a t e a n d c o n v o l u t e d a c c o u n t , t w o p a i r s o f m yt hi c a l t w i n s a r e
i n v o l v e d . The f i r s t t w i n s , Hu n -Hu n a hp u ( o r On e -Hu n a hp u ) a n d V u c u b -Hu n a hp u ( o r
S e v e n -Hu n a hp u ) , a r e s u m m o n e d t o t he Un d e r w o r l d a n d a r e e v e n t u a l l y k i l l e d b y t he
d e a t h g o d s . The he a d o f On e -Hu n a hp u i s hu n g u p i n a c a l a b a s h t r e e w he r e i t s p i t s
i n t o t he ha n d o f a d a u g ht e r o f o n e o f t he d e a t h g o d s [ 8 b ] . S he b e c o m e s p r e g n a n t
g i v i n g b i r t h t o t he He r o t w i n s , Hu n a hp u a n d X b a l a n q u e . The y g r o w u p , d e f e a t
v a r i o u s o p p o n e n t s i n c l u d i n g a r i v a l p a i r o f c o u s i n s , a n d e v e n t u a l l y a r e s u m m o n e d t o
t he Un d e r w o r l d . The y o v e r c o m e t he Lo r d s o f X i b a l b a b y a s e r i e s o f t r i c k s , e n d i n g i n
30 8 HANKOFF
HEALING TWINS
t he d e s t r u c t i o n o f t he t w o g o d s , On e -De a t h a n d S e v e n -De a t h [ 8 c ] . The He r o t w i n s
t he n r i s e u p t o b e c o m e t he S u n a n d t he Mo o n . [ 8 d ] . As w i l l b e d i s c u s s e d b e l o w , t hi s
l a t t e r e l e m e n t i n p a r t i c u l a r b e a r s a n i n t e r e s t i n g s i m i l a r i t y t o Eg yp t i a n t he o l o g y.
Chr i s t i a n i t y ha s i t s t w i n t he m e s a s w e l l . The t w o s o n s o f Z e b e d e e , Ja m e s a n d Jo hn ,
a r e c a l l e d Bo a n e r g e s b y Chr i s t , a n a m e m e a n i n g " s o n s o f t hu n d e r " ( Ma r k 3. 1 7 ) .
Thi s
e p i t he t i s e q u i v a l e n t t o t ha t u s e d f o r Ca s t o r a n d P o l l u x , t he Di o s c u r i ( " Z e u s ' b o ys " ) ,
a n d i t ha s b e e n s u g g e s t e d t ha t t hi s i s a r e m n a n t o f t he w o r s hi p o f t w i n d i v i n i t i e s i n t he
a n c i e n t Ne a r Ea s t [ 9 ] . Chr i s t i s , o f c o u r s e , a d i v i n e he a l e r ; a n d i t i s n o t e w o r t hy
t ha t
he i s r e f e r r e d t o s e v e r a l t i m e s i n a n a p o c hr yp ha l w o r k a s t he i d e n t i c a l t w i n o f t he
a p o s t l e Ju d a s Tho m a s [ 1 0 ] . The w o r k e n t i t l e d t he Ac t s o f t he Ho l y Ap o s t l e Tho m a s ,
w hi c h i s b e l i e v e d t o ha v e b e e n c o m p o s e d i n Ed e s s a i n t he 3r d c e n t u r y [ 1 1 ] , m a k e s
e x p l i c i t m e n t i o n o f t he t w i n s hi p a n d d e s c r i b e s ho w Ju d a s Tho m a s a n d Chr i s t a r e
m i s t a k e n f o r e a c h o t he r . Thu s Chr i s t p r o v i d e s a n o t he r e x a m p l e o f a t w i n w i t h he a l i n g
p o w e r s . Al s o f a m e d a s d i v i n e l y g u i d e d he a l e r s a r e t he e a r l y Chr i s t i a n s a i n t s Co s m o s
a n d Da m i a n .
The f o l k l o r e o f t w i n s o f t e n p r e s e n t s t w o c o n t r a s t i n g t he m e s , o n e a c o n s t r u c t i v e r o l e
o f t w i n s a s b u i l d e r s o r f o u n d e r s a n d t he o t he r , a d e s t r u c t i v e r o l e a s w a r r i o r s o r
c o m p e t i t o r s . Myt ho l o g y, f o l k l o r e , a n d r e l i g i o n o f t e n c a s t t w i n s i n a k e y r o l e i n
b e g i n n i n g s o r o r i g i n s . Thu s t w i n s o f t e n a r e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t he e s t a b l i s hm e n t o f t he
e t hn i c g r o u p , t he f o u n d i n g o f a c i t y, t he b e g i n n i n g o f c i v i l i z a t i o n , o r t he c r e a t i o n o f
t he w o r l d . The r e i s o f t e n a e t i o l o g i c a l m o t i f i n t he t w i n n a r r a t i v e s , i . e . ,
t he c i r c u m -
s t a n c e s p e r t a i n i n g t o t he t w i n s a c c o u n t f o r s o m e e n d u r i n g f e a t u r e o f t he d e s c e n d e n t s .
In t he Bi b l e t he f i r s t n a t u r a l b o r n o f m a n k i n d a r e t he t w i n s Ca i n a n d Ab e l ;
a n d t he
o f f s p r i n g o f Is a a c , t he t w i n s Ja c o b a n d Es a u , a r e t he s o u r c e s o f t he t w o
g r e a t
c o n t e s t i n g S e m i t i c s t r a i n s , t he He b r e w s a n d t he Ar a b s . The f o u n d e r s o f Ro m e a r e
Ro m u l u s a n d Re m u s . The S p a r t a n k i n g s a r e d e s c e n d e d f r o m t he f a m e d Di o s c u r i
[ 1 2 ] . Am p hi o n a n d Z e t hu s a r e t he m yt ho l o g i c a l t w i n b u i l d e r s o f The b e s i n Gr e e c e
[ 1 3] .
The c o n s t r u c t i v e a s p e c t o f t w i n m yt ho l o g y i n c l u d e s t he r o l e s o f c i v i l i z e r s o r
c u l t u r e -b e a r e r s . As m e n t i o n e d a b o v e , Ra d i n n o t e s t w i n s a t t he
p ha s e
i n t he
c yc l e
o f
m yt hs i n w hi c h m a n k i n d i s g i v e n g i f t s f o r hi s c o n t r o l o f n a t u r e a f t e r t he e a r l i e r l e s s
s e t t l i n g p ha s e s o f c r e a t i o n . In t he m yt ho l o g i e s o f No r t h Am e r i c a n In d i a n s , e . g . ,
Na v a j o , Z u n i , d i v i n e t w i n s f a t he r e d b y t he S u n u n d e r t a k e p r o d i g i o u s t a s k s t o r e d u c e
t he d a n g e r o u s f o r c e s o p p o s i n g m a n k i n d . The t w i n s i n s t r u c t m e n s o t ha t s u r v i v a l o f
t he hu m a n r a c e i s a s s u r e d i n t he f a c e o f g r e a t d a n g e r s a n d f o r c e s o f d e s t r u c t i o n [ 1 4 ] .
S o u t h a n d Ce n t r a l Am e r i c a n In d i a n m yt ho l o g i e s s i m i l a r l y p o r t r a y a p a i r o f d i v i n e
t w i n s w ho b r i n g t he g i f t o f f i r e a n d t he a r t s o f c i v i l i z a t i o n t o m a n [ 1 5 ] . The m u r d e r e r
t w i n o f t he Bi b l e , Ca i n , i s a l s o c o n n e c t e d w i t h m a n ' s t e c hn i c a l a d v a n c e m e n t . He
f o u n d s o r b u i l d s t he f i r s t c i t y ( Ge n e s i s 4 . 1 7 ) a n d a c c o r d i n g t o t r a d i t i o n , c o n t r i b u t e s
t he a s s o c i a t e d a r t s o f b o u n d a r y-f i x i n g , m e a s u r i n g , w e i g hi n g , a n d f o r t i f yi n g .
As b e f i t s
a m u r d e r e r w ho b e c o m e s a c u l t u r e -b e a r e r Ca i n a l s o t a u g ht v i c e , l u x u r y, a n d i n d u l -
g e n c e a n d p u t a n e n d t o m a n ' s s i m p l i c i t y [ 1 6 ] .
In c o n t r a s t t o t he b u i l d e r t he m e , t he m yt ho l o g y o f t w i n s o f t e n f e a t u r e s d e s t r u c t i v e
e l e m e n t s i n t he f o r m o f c o m p e t i t i o n , r i v a l r y, a n d a g g r e s s i o n .
The
r i v a l r y
o f t he t w i n s
m a y ha v e a d yn a s t i c s i g n i f i c a n c e a s w i t h Ja c o b a n d Es a u . Fu r t he r m o r e ,
t he
r i v a l r y
i s
f o r e s ha d o w e d b y a s t r u g g l e w hi c h s t a r t s w hi l e t he t w i n s a r e s t i l l t o g e t he r
i n t he i r
m o t he r ' s w o m b ( Ge n e s i s 2 5 . 2 2 ) . Ot he r e x a m p l e s o f i n t r a -u t e r i n e t w i n a n t a g o n i s t s
a r e
P ha r e z a n d Z a r a h ( Ge n e s i s 37 . 2 8 -30 ) , P r o t e u s a n d Ac r i s i u s [ 1 7 ] , t he Ir o q u o i s t w i n s ,
Fl i n t a n d S a p l i n g [ 1 8 ] , a n d t he Hu r o n Cr e a t o r -t w i n s [ 1 9 ] .
30 9
The c o m p e t i t i o n i n m yt hi c a l t w i n s o f t e n c u l m i n a t e s i n f r a t r i c i d e . Ro m u l u s a n d
Re m u s ha v e a f a t a l q u a r r e l a s d o Bi b l i c a l Ca i n a n d Ab e l a n d The b a n Am p hi o n a n d
Z e t hu s . A v a r i a t i o n o f t he f r a t r i c i d e t he m e i s t he s i m u l t a n e o u s m u t u a l s l a u g ht e r o f
t w i n s i n c o m b a t w i t h e a c h o t he r . S u c h i s t he c a s e o f Et e o c l e s a n d P o l yn e i c e s [ 2 0 ] a s
w e l l a s t he g i g a n t i c t w i n s o n s o f P o s e i d o n , Ep hi a l t e s a n d Ot u s , w ho ha d b e s i e g e d t he
g o d s o n Ol ym p u s b y p i l i n g P e l i o n o n Os s a [ 2 1 ] .
A v a r i a t i o n o n t he t w i n ' s s i b l i n g r i v a l r y i s f o u n d i n c l a s s i c a l m yt ho l o g y w he r e
Ca s t o r a n d P o l l u x ha v e a p r o t r a c t e d f e u d n o t w i t h e a c h o t he r b u t w i t h a n o t he r p a i r ,
t he i r t w i n c o u s i n s Id a s a n d Lyn c e u s . Thi s r i v a l r y c u l m i n a t e s i n a t i t a n i c s t r u g g l e a n d
t he d e a t hs o f Id a s , Lyn c e u s , a n d Ca s t o r [ 2 2 ] . S t i l l a n o t he r v a r i a t i o n i s i n t he m yt h o f
Ae o l u s a n d Bo e o t u s , a l s o t w i n s o n s o f P o s e i d o n , w ho a r e t he o b j e c t o f a p l o t b y t he i r
f o s t e r m o t he r The a n o . S he i n s t r u c t s he r o w n t w i n s o n s t o k i l l P o s e i d o n ' s b u t t he
t a b l e s a r e t u r n e d a n d The a n o ' s t w i n s a r e k i l l e d b y Ae o l u s a n d Bo e o t u s [ 2 3] . In t he
c a s e o f t he Q u i c he Ma ya n m yt hs , a f a t a l c o m p e t i t i o n o f a n i n t e r g e n e r a t i o n a l n a t u r e
o c c u r s s e v e r a l t i m e s i n v o l v i n g s e t s o f t w i n s a n d / o r p a i r s o f b r o t he r s [ 2 3a ] .
An i n t e r e s t i n g f e a t u r e i n t he m yt ho l o g y a n d f o l k l o r e o f t w i n s i s t he m u l t i p l yi n g o f
t he p a r t i c i p a n t s . Tw i n s a r e f o u n d t o b e r e d u p l i c a t e d a n d b o r n a s q u a d r u p l e t s , o t he r
t w i n s a p p e a r a s r i v a l s , a n d t w i n s g i v e b i r t h t o t w i n s . P o s e i d o n ha s a t l e a s t f i v e s e t s o f
t w i n o f f s p r i n g [ 2 4 ] ; Ja c o b ha s t w e l v e . Why t he r e p l i c a t i o n o f t w i n s i n m yt ho l o g y?
Le v i -S t r a u s s e x p l a i n s t hi s t e n d e n c y o f m yt hi c a n d o r a l l i t e r a t u r e t o m u l t i p l y t he s a m e
s e q u e n c e a s a t he m a t i c r e p e t i t i o n s e r v i n g t o m a k e t he s t r u c t u r a l a s p e c t o f m yt h m o r e
a p p a r e n t [ 2 5 ] . P a u l Ra d i n ha s t a k e n n o t e o f a r e l a t e d f e a t u r e i n hi s s t u d i e s o f
Am e r i c a n In d i a n m yt ho l o g y a n d r e g a r d s i t a s a r e f l e c t i o n o f a p a r t i c u l a r m e n t a l i t y i n
p r i m i t i v e m a n . Ra d i n ha s c ha r a c t e r i z e d t he m a j o r i t y o f p r i m i t i v e m e n a s a c t i o n -
o r i e n t e d , s e e k i n g a r e p e t i t i v e r hyt hm o f e v e n t s , a n d u n c o n c e r n e d w i t h p r o g r e s s i o n o r
e v o l u t i o n o f c o n c e p t s [ 2 6 ] . The m a n o f a c t i o n , a s Ra d i n ha s l a b e l e d hi m , i n c o n t r a s t
t o t he t hi n k e r p hi l o s o p he r , i s n o t c o n c e r n e d w i t h t he m o n o t o n y w hi c h c o m e s w i t h
r e p e t i t i o n b u t f i n d s i n i t t he p r e o c c u p yi n g a n d d i v e r t i n g q u a l i t y o f e v e r -c ha n g i n g
e x t e r n a l r e a l i t y a s he p e r c e i v e s i t . Kl u c k ho hn i n a w i d e -r a n g i n g f o r m u l a t i o n o f t he
p he n o m e n o n o f m yt h ha s p o i n t e d u p t he s a t i s f a c t i o n s s e r v e d b y m yt hs i n p r i m i t i v e
s o c i e t y w he r e t he y o c c u p y a p o s i t i o n c o m p a r a b l e t o t ha t o f l i t e r a t u r e i n l i t e r a t e
s o c i e t y [ 2 7 ] . The m yt h s e r v e s t he n e e d f o r e m o t i o n a l d i s c ha r g e a n d e x p r e s s i o n . It
e d i f i e s a n d e n t e r t a i n s . The r e p e t i t i v e c ha r a c t e r o f m yt h a n d i t s u s e o f t he f a m i l i a r
w o r d a n d f o r m i s b a s i c t o i t s e f f i c a c y a n d c ha r m s i n c e i t u t i l i z e s w e l l e s t a b l i s he d
c ha n n e l s o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n w hi c h e n ha n c e a n d c o l o r t he m yt h.
In t he w o r l d o f t he s u p e r n a t u r a l , t he s p e c i a l p e r s o n a l g i f t s o f t w i n s f o r m a hi g hl y
c ha r a c t e r i s t i c p a t t e r n . Bo t h m yt hi c a l a n d hu m a n t w i n s a r e a s c r i b e d e x t r a -o r d i n a r y
p o w e r s a n d a b i l i t i e s . The b r o a d s u p e r -n a t u r a l p o w e r s o f Ca s t o r a n d P o l l u x a r e w e l l
d e p i c t e d i n c l a s s i c a l w r i t i n g s a n d r e m a i n s . The y a r e t he s a v i o u r s o f s hi p w r e c k e d
s a i l o r s , s e n d e r s o f f a v o r a b l e w i n d s , g u a r d i a n s o f ho s p i t a l i t y, i n v e n t o r s o f m a r t i a l
m u s i c a n d t he w a r d a n c e , p a t r o n s o f b a r d s w ho s i n g o f a n c i e n t b a t t l e s , a n d t he
p a r t i c u l a r p r o t e c t o r s o f t he S p a r t a n s i n b a t t l e . In a d d i t i o n , t he y ha v e he a l i n g p o w e r s
a n d a i d w o m e n i n c hi l d b i r t h [ 2 8 ] .
The i r m a n y a d v e n t u r e s i n c l a s s i c a l m yt ho l o g y r e l a t e t o t he i r p r o w e s s i n w a r a n d
a t hl e t i c s . On t he i r w hi t e c ha r g e r s t he y m i g ht s w o o p d o w n t o a n s w e r t he p r a ye r o f a
n e a r l y d o o m e d i n d i v i d u a l . The f e a t s o f t he Di o s c u r i a s r e s c u e r s o r s a v i o u r s p r o v i d e a
p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e r e s t i n g t he m e [ 2 9 ] . As w i l l b e d i s c u s s e d , t he r o l e o f m i r a c u l o u s
r e s c u e r w a s a c e n t r a l t he m e i n t he m yt ho l o g y o f t he As hv i n s a n d o n e o f t he c l e a r
i n d i c a t i o n s o f t he i r c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t he Di o s c u r i . Eu r i p i d e s c a s t s t he Di o s c u r i i n t he
r o l e o f r e s c u e r s o f t he i r s i s t e r He l e n , t he c ho r u s s i n g i n g :
31 0
HANKOFF
HEALING TWINS
Ma y yo u r i d i n g d o w n t hr o u g h t he b r i g ht
a i r , s w i f t o n yo u r ho r s e s ,
s o n s o f Tyn d a r e u s , c o m e
d o w n t he s t o r m i n g c o u r s e s o f yo u r s t a r s ' f l a r i n g ,
o h, d w e l l e r s i n t he s k y,
s a v i o r s o f He l e n . . [ 30 ]
Ju s t a s t he Di o s c u r i l e a d t he
S p a r t a n s
i n
b a t t l e ,
t he hu m a n t w i n w a s a l s o r e g a r d e d
a s
p a r t i c u l a r l y p o t e n t
i n w a r f a r e a n d
d e s i g n a t e d
t o
g o
a t t he he a d o f a n Af r i c a n t r i b e
i n t o b a t t l e
[ 31 ] ,
o r
r e q u i r e d
t o
e n g a g e
i n
p a r t i c u l a r
r i t u a l p e r f o r m a n c e s
p r i o r t o b a t t l e
i n o r d e r t o e n s u r e v i c t o r y.
A
p a r t i c u l a r
f o c u s o f t w i n s '
p o w e r s
l i e s i n r e l a t i o n t o t he w e a t he r [ 32 ] . Am o n g
m a n y
Af r i c a n t r i b e s t he m o r t a l t w i n w a s b e l i e v e d t o ha v e s p e c i a l a b i l i t i e s t o b r i n g
a b o u t
g o o d w e a t he r ,
a b u n d a n t
r a i n f a l l ,
a n d
c o n s e q u e n t l y g o o d c r o p s . The t w i n w a s
c o n s i d e r e d a b l e t o
m a n i p u l a t e
t he f o r c e s w hi c h m a d e f o r g o o d w e a t he r o r a c t a s a n
i n t e r m e d i a r y
f o r t he t r i b e i n
o b t a i n i n g g o o d
w e a t he r . The Kw a k i u t l a n d No o t k a
In d i a n s o f Br i t i s h Co l u m b i a
r e g a r d
t he b i r t h o f t w i n s a s a g o o d o m e n f o r s a l m o n
f i s hi n g [ 33] .
An o t he r
q u a l i t y p r o m i n e n t l y
a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t w i n s i s t he a b i l i t y t o d i v i n e t he f u t u r e
o r
c a r r y
o u t v a r i o u s
c l a i r v o ya n t
o r
p r e s c i e n t
a c t i v i t i e s . Thu s , Ir o q u o i s t w i n s a r e
a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t he
p r e d i c t i o n
o f t he
f u t u r e ;
t he Go l a h o f Li b e r i a , t he i n t e r p r e t i n g o f
d r e a m s
[ 34 ] ;
a n d t he P e r u v i a n In d i a n s a n d Af r i c a n Z u l u s , t he f o r e t e l l i n g o f w e a t he r
[ 35 ] . Am o n g m yt ho l o g i c a l
t w i n s t he i r
c l a i r v o ya n c e
i s t r a n s l a t e d i n t o a r o l e a s a
t e a c he r o f
n a v i g a t i o n
a n d a
p a t r o n
o f
t r a v e l e r s , w a yf a r e r s ,
a n d s a i l o r s , f e a t u r e s
c o m m o n t o b o t h t he Di o s c u r i a n d t he V e d i c As hv i n s [ 36 ] .
It i s n a t u r a l t ha t b e l i e f s i n t he
he a l i n g p o w e r s
o f d i v i n e t w i n s s ho u l d b e c l o s e l y t i e d
t o a n c i e n t
r e l i g i o u s p r a c t i c e s .
The
m yt ho l o g y
o f
s u p e r n a t u r a l
t w i n s t a k e s i t s m o s t
c o he r e n t f o r m i n w ha t ha s b e e n t e r m e d t he c u l t o f t he d i v i n e t w i n s o r d i o s c u r i s m .
Fr o m In d i a t o t he Me d i t e r r a n e a n t he r e i s
a m p l e
e v i d e n c e o f t he a n c i e n t w o r s hi p o f
m a r k e d l y
s i m i l a r t w i n
g o d s . Ma n y
o f t he s i t e s o f w o r s hi p t hr o u g ho u t t hi s b r o a d
c u l t u r a l b e l t s ho w a v a r i e t y o f e t ym o l o g i c a l l i n k s [ 37 ] .
Fr o m t he Di o s c u r i o f t he c l a s s i c a l
w o r l d ,
t he t r a d i t i o n o f he a l i n g t w i n s w a s p a s s e d
o n t o
Chr i s t i a n i t y.
The Chr i s t i a n s a i n t s Co s m a s a n d Da m i a n w e r e r e v e r e d f o r t he i r
m i r a c u l o u s c u r e s s u c h a s t he
t r a n s p l a n t a t i o n
o f a l i m b f r o m a c a d a v e r t o a m a i m e d
m a n a n d t he r e m o v a l o f a s n a k e f r o m a
b o y
w ho ha d s w a l l o w e d o n e . Fo l l o w i n g t he
m a r t yr d o m
o f Co s m a s a n d Da m i a n i n a Di o c l e t i a n
p e r s e c u t i o n
i n 30 3 A. D. [ 38 ] , t he
s i c k
s o u g ht
f a i t h c u r e s
b y s l e e p i n g o v e r n i g ht
a t t he i r t o m b a t Cyr u s i n n o r t he r n S yr i a .
Tw o c e n t u r i e s l a t e r Ju s t i n i a n I m o v e d t he i r r e m a i n s t o Co n s t a n t i n o p l e
w he r e t he
p a g a n
s hr i n e o f t he Di o s c u r i w a s r e d e d i c a t e d t o Co s m a s a n d Da m i a n . The p r a c t i c e
t he r e o f
he a l i n g b y
i n c u b a t i o n w a s t hu s
p a s s e d
f r o m t he o n e r e l i g i o n t o t he n e x t [ 39 ] .
By
f a r t he m o s t a n c i e n t a n d d e t a i l e d
w r i t i n g s
r e f e r a b l e t o d i o s c u r i s m
a r e t ho s e o f
V e d i c
m yt ho l o g y
w hi c h
s p e a k
o f t he t w i n As hv i n s . The y a r e o f t e n m e n t i o n e d i n t he
m o s t a n c i e n t o f t he V e d i c
w r i t i n g s ,
t he
Ri g V e d a ,
a n d o c c u p y a p l a c e o f ho n o r i n t he
V e d i c
p a n t he o n
a s w e l l a s i n l a t e r Hi n d u
m yt ho l o g y.
The Ri g V e d a i n w hi c h t he
a c c o u n t s a n d r e f e r e n c e s t o t he As hv i n s a r e t o b e f o u n d i s d a t e d a t s o m e w he r e a r o u n d
1 5 0 0 t o 2 0 0 0 B. c . The
Ri g
V e d a i s w r i t t e n i n a n c i e n t S a n s k r i t a n d i s t he s u r v i v i n g
w o r k o f t he V e d i c o r
Ar ya n p e o p l e
w ho
p r e c e d e d
t he In d i a n a n d Ir a n i a n c i v i l i z a t i o n
[ 4 0 ] .
It i s t he m o s t a n c i e n t o f t he v a r i e d
c o m p l e x
o f V e d i c w r i t i n g s , a n d t he m o s t
a n c i e n t w r i t t e n s o u r c e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t he c u l t o f t he d i v i n e t w i n s . The V e d i c
r e f e r e n c e s
p r e -d a t e
t he e a r l i e s t c l a s s i c a l Ho m e r i c w r i t i n g s b y a s m u c h a s 1 , 0 0 0 ye a r s .
31 1
At t e s t i n g t o t he a n c i e n t s t a t u s o f t he As hv i n s i s t he f a m o u s Mi t a n n i i n s c r i p t i o n i n
n o r t he r n Me s o p o t a m i a d a t e d a b o u t 1 4 0 0 B. C. w hi c h l i s t s o n e o f t he n a m e s o f t he
As hv i n s , Na s a t ya s [ 4 1 ] .
The As hv i n s , o f t e n p i c t u r e d a s d i v i n e ho r s e m e n , a r e r e f e r r e d t o 4 0 0 t i m e s i n 5 0 o u t
o f t he 1 , 0 2 8 hym n s o f t he Ri g V e d a . The p a r e n t s o f t he t w i n s a r e v a r i o u s l y m e n t i o n e d
a s t he s u n , he a v e n s , o c e a n , e a r t h, o r t w o g r e a t k i n g s [ 4 2 ] . The y r i d e i n a g o l d e n
s hi n i n g c ha r i o t , he r a l d d a yb r e a k , o v e r c o m e d a r k n e s s , a n d a p p e a r a s t he r e s p e c t i v e
s t a r s o f m o r n i n g a n d e v e n i n g .
The y a r e t he p hys i c i a n s o f t he g o d s a n d p e r f o r m e x t r a o r d i n a r y m e d i c a l f e a t s
i n c l u d i n g t he r e v i v a l o f t he d e a d , t he r e s t o r a t i o n o f s i g ht t o t he b l i n d , he l p i n g t he
l a m e t o w a l k a g a i n , r e p l a c i n g a he a d w hi c h ha s b e e n c u t o f f , a n d p r o v i d i n g p r o s t he s e s
f o r a m p u t a t e d l i m b s . The y a l s o a s s i s t i n c hi l d b i r t h a n d he l p t o c e m e n t ha p p y
m a r r i a g e s . The a g e d a n d i m p o t e n t a r e r e s t o r e d t o f u l l v i g o r b y t he m . The y a r e t he
i n v e n t o r s o f m e d i c i n e s a n d b r i n g he a l i n g a r t s t o m a n k i n d . Li k e P r o m e t he u s t he i r
p hi l a n t hr o p i c a c t s e a r n t he m t he d i s f a v o r a n d s u s p i c i o n o f t he g o d s .
The y a r e i n s e p a r a b l e c o m p a n i o n s . The i r ha r m o n i o u s a b i l i t y t o c o o r d i n a t e t he m -
s e l v e s i n g o o d w o r k s i s a m o d e l f o r a l l ha p p y d u a l i t i e s . The y a r e c o m p a r e d , f o r
e x a m p l e , t o a ha p p y m a r r i e d c o u p l e , t he t w o ho r n s o r t w o ho o f s o f a n a n i m a l , t he
t w o s e e i n g e ye s , t he t w o l i p s s p e a k i n g s w e e t l y, o r t he t w o c o n f l u e n t r i v e r s [ 4 3] .
Li k e t w o ha n d s b e i n v e s t i n g u s w i t h v i g o u r ,
l i k e he a v e n a n d e a r t h s u b d u i n g t he a t m o s p he r e ,
Ou r s o n g s , As v i n s , t ha t p r o c e e d t o w a r d s yo u ,
s ha r p e n t he m w e l l , l i k e a n a x e u p o n t he w he t s t o n e [ 4 4 ] .
The As hv i n s a r e e v e r r e a d y t o c o r r e c t w r o n g s o r o u t r a g e s ; a n d t he y m a g i c a l l y
s n a t c h f r o m d a n g e r t ho s e w ho c a l l o n t he m f o r he l p . The y s e e k o u t t he m a n w ho ha s
b e e n c a p t u r e d b y b a n d i t s a n d f r e e hi m , s a v e o n e f r o m d r o w n i n g , a n d p u l l a n o t he r
f r o m a b u r n i n g c ha s m . The q u a i l i n t he m o u t h o f t he w o l f i s r e s c u e d .
Thr o u g ho u t t he l o r e o f t he As hv i n s i s t he , t he m e o f t he i r m a r v e l o u s a b i l i t y t o
r e v e r s e o r n e g a t e n a t u r e o r s o m e n e a r l y f i n a l c a t a s t r o p hi c s t a t e . The y a r e t hu s
m e d i a t o r s b e t w e e n a n o u t c o m e a n d i t s r e v e r s a l , m i r r o r i n g t he i r e x i s t e n c e a s ha r m o n i -
o u s t w i n s a n d b e a r e r s o f t he l i g ht o f d a w n i n t o d a r k n e s s . The y a r e t he g r e a t
r e c o n c i l e r s . Le v i -S t r a u s s i n hi s s t r u c t u r a l a n a l ys i s o f m yt hi c a l t ho u g ht f o r m u l a t e s a
c o n c e p t u a l f r a m e w o r k o f p o l a r i z e d t e r m s w hi c h a r e m e d i a t e d t o f o r m a t hi r d t e r m .
The t hi r d t e r m i s p o l a r i z e d a g a i n s t a n o t he r i n a p r o c e s s o f c o n t i n u a l s t r u c t u r e d
c o n t r a s t s [ 4 5 ] .
The As hv i n s a r e s ym b o l i c o f t he p r o c e s s o f a c c o m m o d a t i o n o f o p p o s i n g f o r c e s .
V a r i o u s c o n t r a s t i n g o r c o m p e t i n g f o r c e s ( l i g ht a n d d a r k n e s s , s i c k n e s s a n d he a l t h,
v i o l e n c e a n d t r a n q u i l i t y, e t c . ) a r e b r o u g ht t o g e t he r t o p r o d u c e a ha r m o n i o u s s yn t he -
s i s . The As hv i n s a r e t he p e r s o n i f i c a t i o n o f c o o r d i n a t e d a c t i o n b y a d u a l i t y.
The m yt h o f t he i r b i r t h m a y b e i n t e r p r e t e d a s a n a l l e g o r y o n t he t he m e o f
r e c o n c i l i a t i o n . In o n e v e r s i o n , t he g o d d e s s S a n j n a ( " Co n s c i e n c e " o r " Un d e r s t a n d -
i n g " ) b e i n g u n a b l e t o s t a n d t he b r i l l i a n c e o f he r hu s b a n d , t he s u n , S u r ya o r V i v a s v a t
( " Ri g ht e o u s n e s s " o r " Et e r n a l La w " ) , s e p a r a t e d f r o m hi m t o a s ha d e d s p o t a n d
a s s u m e d t he f o r m o f a m a r e . He a c c o m m o d a t e d hi m s e l f t o he r t r a n s m u t a t i o n b y
b e c o m i n g a s t a l l i o n a n d f o l l o w e d he r t o he r f o r e s t r e t r e a t . The o f f s p r i n g o f t he i r
u n i o n w e r e t he As hv i n s [ 4 6 ] . Thu s t he b e n e v o l e n t he a l e r s a r e t he r e s u l t o f g o d l i k e
b r i l l i a n c e b e i n g u n i t e d w i t h t he r e t i r i n g f o r m o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g n e e d e d t o r e l a t e t o
m a n k i n d ' s l i m i t a t i o n s .
Fo l k l o r e o f f e r s s e v e r a l d i f f e r e n t t he o r i e s o n t he o r i g i n o f t w i n s . The b i r t h o f t w i n s
w a s r e g a r d e d w i t h p a r t i c u l a r a w e a n d c o n c e r n b y a n c i e n t m a n a n d p r i m i t i v e a n d
31 2 HANKOFF
HEALING TWINS
t r a d i t i o n a l s o c i e t i e s ; a n d t hr o u g ho u t t he w o r l d r e c o g n i t i o n o f t he b i r t h o f t w i n s i s
n o t e d i n f o l k l o r e a n d c u s t o m i n t he a t t e m p t t o r e s o l v e t he t e n s i o n c r e a t e d b y t he i r
b i r t h. It i s a p p a r e n t t ha t t he b i r t h o f t w i n s r a i s e d q u e s t i o n s r e g a r d i n g t he c o n d u c t o f
t he p a r e n t s . The m o t he r o f t w i n s i n s o m e s o c i e t i e s w a s r e q u i r e d t o u n d e r g o s p e c i a l
r i t e s o f p u r i f i c a t i o n a n d s e p a r a t i o n f r o m t he t r i b e f o r a s p e c i f i e d p e r i o d , a s f o r
e x a m p l e a m o n g t he Af r i c a n Ib i b i o s t r i b e [ 4 7 ] ; s he m a y b e e x p o s e d t o p hys i c a l
p u n i s hm e n t o r e v e n k i l l e d [ 4 8 ] . The o f f s p r i n g a t b i r t h m i g ht a l s o r e c e i v e s p e c i a l
t r e a t m e n t , i n c e r t a i n c u l t u r e s o n e t w i n b e i n g s a c r i f i c e d . As a n a l t e r n a t i v e t o s e v e r e
p u n i t i v e m e a s u r e s r e f u g e s w e r e s e t u p w he r e t he m o t he r c o u l d g o i n s a f e t y w i t h he r
n e w b o r n t o l i v e o u t he r l i f e o r t he p e r i o d o f t he t a b o o .
Whe r e a s t he t w i n s a n d t he i r m o t he r w e r e r e g a r d e d w i t h f e a r a n d r e j e c t i o n i n s o m e
c u l t u r e s , i n o t he r s t he y w e r e o b j e c t s o f p a r t i c u l a r f a v o r . Thu s , t he Ba n t u m o t he r o f
t w i n s r e c e i v e s s p e c i a l r e c o g n i t i o n b y t he t r i b e [ 4 9 ] . The t w i n s t he m s e l v e s m i g ht b e
hi g hl y r e g a r d e d a n d e n t i t l e d t o s p e c i a l p r i v i l e g e s a n d ho n o r s . The t r e a t m e n t a c c o r d e d
t he m o t he r o r t w i n s w a s r e l a t e d t o t he p a r t i c u l a r t he o r y o f t w i n o r i g i n s e n t e r t a i n e d b y
t he c u l t u r e .
P a t e r n i t y a p p e a r s t o b e t he c e n t r a l q u e s t i o n f o r m o s t f o l k l o r e t he o r i e s e x p l a i n i n g
t w i n b i r t hs . On e t he o r y a m o n g t r a d i t i o n a l s o c i e t i e s i s t ha t t w i n s a r e t he r e s u l t o f
s u p e r f e t a t i o n , i . e . , t he y a r e t he r e s u l t o f t w o f a t he r s a n d a r e t he r e f o r e e v i d e n c e o f
i n f i d e l i t y o n t he p a r t o f t he m o t he r . Thi s i s s o a m o n g t ho s e t r i b a l c u l t u r e s w he r e t he
b a s i c b e l i e f i s t ha t a hu m a n f a t he r c a n o n l y b e g e t o n e c hi l d a t a t i m e . It i s n a t u r a l i n
s u c h s o c i e t i e s t ha t t he b i r t h o f t w i n s w i l l b e r e g a r d e d i n a n e g a t i v e w a y.
An o t he r t he o r y i s t ha t t w i n s a r e t he r e s u l t o f d i v i n e i n t e r v e n t i o n o r e v e n i m p r e g n a -
t i o n o f t he m o t he r b y a d i v i n i t y o r d i v i n e f o r c e . The t he m e o f d i v i n e i n t e r v e n t i o n
a p p e a r s i n t he c a s e o f Ja c o b a n d Es a u w he r e t he i r f a t he r Is a a c ha d a s k e d f o r Go d ' s
he l p i n r e l i e v i n g t he b a r r e n n e s s o f hi s w i f e Re b e c c a ( Ge n e s i s 2 5 . 2 1 ) . The m o r e
p r i m i t i v e b e l i e f i s t ha t t he g o d i s a c t u a l l y t he i m p r e g n a t i n g f o r c e . In Gr e e k m yt ho l o g y
t he s e a g o d P o s e i d o n a p p e a r e d t o b e p a r t i c u l a r l y e n d o w e d w i t h t he a b i l i t y t o p r o d u c e
t w i n o f f s p r i n g i n hi s l i a i s o n s w i t h b o t h m o r t a l a n d d i v i n e p a r t n e r s [ 5 0 ] . A v a r i a t i o n
o n t he t he m e o f d i v i n e i n t e r v e n t i o n i s t ha t t he b i r t h o f t w i n s i s r e l a t e d t o a n a c t o f
r e i n c a r n a t i o n , a c l a i m m a d e b y s ha m a n s a t t i m e s a s s u p p o r t f o r t he i r a c c e s s t o n o n -
r a t i o n a l r e a l m s .
The t he o r y o f d i v i n e i m p r e g n a t i o n a s t he s o u r c e o f t w i n s i s f r e q u e n t l y c o m b i n e d
w i t h t ha t o f s u p e r f e t a t i o n i n a b e l i e f t ha t t he t w i n s r e p r e s e n t o n e m o r t a l a n d o n e
d i v i n e f a t he r . Thi s i s a c o m m o n f e a t u r e i n Gr e e k m yt ho l o g y w he r e a n a c c o u n t m a y
d e s c r i b e a g o d v i s i t i n g t he w i f e a l r e a d y i m p r e g n a t e d b y he r l e g i t i m a t e s p o u s e o r
c o n v e r s e l y w he r e a w o m a n i m p r e g n a t e d b y a g o d t a k e s a m o r t a l p a r t n e r . In e i t he r
c a s e t he r e m a y b e hu r t f e e l i n g s a n d v e n g e f u l c o n s e q u e n c e s .
The Di o s c u r i w e r e b o r n t o Le d a t he w i f e o f Tyn d a r e u s w ho w a s p r e g n a n t b y hi m a s
w e l l a s b y Z e u s . The i r m i r a c u l o u s g e n e r a t i o n i s v a r i o u s l y d e s c r i b e d . In o n e v e r s i o n
t he y f o r m q u a d r u p l e t s b o r n a l o n g w i t h a p a i r o f s i s t e r s ; i n a n o t he r v e r s i o n t he f o u r
a r e b o r n f r o m t w o e g g s l a i d b y Le d a a s a r e s u l t o f a p r e g n a n c y b y Z e u s i n hi s f o r m a s
a s w a n [ 5 1 ] . The a c c o m p a n yi n g f e m a l e p a i r a r e t he f a m o u s He l e n a n d Cl yt a e m n e s t r a .
An i n t e r e s t i n g p a r a l l e l i s a m i d r a s hi c t a l e o f t he f i r s t o f f s p r i n g o f Ad a m a n d Ev e .
Ac c o r d i n g t o t he a c c o u n t , Ca i n a n d Ab e l e a c h ha d a f e m a l e t w i n b o r n a l o n g w i t h hi m
[ 5 2 ] . An o t he r m i d r a s hi c t a l e t e l l s o f a f e m a l e t w i n b o r n w i t h e a c h o f Ja c o b ' s t w e l v e
s o n s [ 5 3] . Be s i d e s t he Di o s c u r i a n d t he i r s i s t e r s , o t he r c a s e s o f g o d -m o r t a l s u p e r f e t a -
t i o n i n Gr e e k m yt ho l o g y i n c l u d e : Lyn c e u s a n d Id a s , He r a c l e s a n d Ip hi c l e s , Da r d a n u s
a n d Ia s i o n , Ac r i s i u s a n d P r o t e u s , As c l e p i u s a n d Er i c ht ho n i u s , Eu r yt u s a n d Ct e a t u s ,
a n d Am p hi o n a n d Z e t hu s [ 5 4 ] .
The c o m p e t i t i v e n e s s o f t w i n s a n d t he i r s t r u g g l e w i t h e a c h o t he r w hi l e s t i l l i n t he
31 3
w o m b m i g ht b e s e e n a s a n a t u r a l e x t e n s i o n o f t he t w o p a t e r n a l r i v a l s f o r t he m o t he r ' s
s e x u a l f a v o r s . In l i f e a m o r e m a t e r i a l i s s u e m i g ht d e v e l o p i n t e r m s o f i n he r i t a n c e o r
l e g i t i m a c y o f o n e t w i n o v e r t he o t he r . Thi s i s c l e a r l y p o r t r a ye d i n t he Bi b l i c a l
a c c o u n t s o f Ca i n a n d Ab e l a n d Ja c o b a n d Es a u , o n e t w i n b e i n g v e r y m u c h o f f e n d e d
b y l o s s o f a b l e s s i n g .
An o t he r p r i m i t i v e t he o r y i s t ha t t w i n s a r e t he r e s u l t o f a n i m a l i m p r e g n a t i o n ,
a n i m a l p r e g n a n c i e s b e i n g m o r e r e a d i l y e x p l a i n a b l e a s t w i n s d u e t o t he i r m o r e
f r e q u e n t o c c u r r e n c e i n v a r i o u s s p e c i e s . Thi s b e l i e f i s a p a r t o f t he f o l k l o r e o f s o m e
No r t h Am e r i c a n In d i a n s i n r e f e r e n c e t o t he b i r t hs o f hu m a n t w i n s . The a n i m a l o r i g i n
t he o r y i s r e f l e c t e d i n t he m yt hs i n w hi c h t he t w i n s a r e ha t c he d f r o m a n e g g , e . g . , t he
Di o s c u r i , t he Mo l i o n e s o f Gr e e k m yt ho l o g y.
Fi n a l l y, c e r t a i n f o o d s , p a r t i c u l a r l y f r u i t s w hi c h a r e p a i r e d o r d o u b l e i n f o r m , a r e
g i v e n a s t he b a s i s f o r t w i n p r e g n a n c i e s . The f o l k l o r e c o n n e c t e d w i t h f o o d s i s f o u n d
w i d e l y [ 5 5 ] . In Eu r o p e , f o r e x a m p l e i n Ba v a r i a , t he e a t i n g o f t w o a p p l e s g r o w n
t o g e t he r w a s b e l i e v e d t o b e a c a u s e o f t w i n s ; a We n d i s h b e l i e f a t t r i b u t e d t w i n s t o
e a t i n g t w o p l u m s ; i n P o r t o n , a f r u i t w i t h t w o k e r n e l s . In t he We s t e r n He m i s p he r e ,
s o m e No r t hw e s t Co a s t In d i a n s b e l i e v e d t ha t e a t i n g f r o m b o t h s i d e s o f a n a n i m a l
c a u s e d t w i n s ; P a r a g u a y n a t i v e s , a d o u b l e e a r o f m a i z e
[ 5 6 ] .
Ru n n i n g t hr o u g h a l l o f t he s e v a r i o u s t he o r i e s i s t he i d e a t ha t t he m o t he r o f t he
t w i n s i s i m p l i c a t e d i n a s u p e r n a t u r a l o r u n u s u a l p r o c e s s . S he a p p e a r s s i n g l e d o u t f o r
a n a b e r r a t i o n o f n a t u r e o r a s p e c i a l f a v o r d u e t o a f o r c e e x t e r n a l t o he r c o n j u g a l
a r r a n g e m e n t . The r e p r o d u c t i v e p r o c e s s ha s b e e n t a m p e r e d o r i n t e r f e r e d w i t h o r
v a r i e d f r o m t he n o r m a l d u e t o o n e o f t he s e v e r a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s . As c o n t r a s t e d w i t h t he
s i n g l e b i r t h, t w i n s s u g g e s t e d t o a n c i e n t o r p r i m i t i v e m a n t ha t s o m e a w e s o m e s u p e r -
n a t u r a l f o r c e w a s a t w o r k . The l i v i n g t w i n s r e m a i n e d a s e v i d e n c e o f t he i n t e r v e n t i o n
o f a p r o c r e a t i v e f o r c e o t he r t ha n t ha t a c c o u n t i n g f o r o n e c hi l d .
P r i m i t i v e s o c i e t i e s n o t e t he s p e c i a l r e l a t i o n s hi p o f t w i n s t o t he d i v i n e o r s u p e r n a t u -
r a l b y d e s i g n a t i n g t he m w i t h a n i m a l n a m e s , e . g . , t w i n s a r e c a l l e d b i r d s b y t he Nu e r
[ 5 7 ] , s a l m o n b y t he Kw a k i u t l [ 5 8 ] , c hi l d r e n o f a p e s i n To g o [ 5 9 ] . Le v i -S t r a u s s
t he o r i z e s t ha t u s i n g a n a n i m a l n a m e f o r a hu m a n p r o v i d e s a s ym b o l f o r a r e l a t i o n s hi p
b e t w e e n n a t u r e ( s p i r i t u a l ) f o r c e s a n d m a n . The t w i n i s p e r c e i v e d a s n o t e n t i r e l y
n a t u r a l , o c c u p yi n g a p o s i t i o n i n t e r m e d i a t e b e t w e e n m a n a n d s p i r i t . The d e s i g n a t i o n
o f t he t w i n a s a n a n i m a l s t r u c t u r e s t hi s p o s i t i o n o f t he t w i n a n d p r o v i d e s a m e t a p ho r
f o r g r a s p i n g t hi s r e l a t i o n s hi p .
Bo t h Le v i -S t r a u s s ' s s t r u c t u r a l i s t t he o r y a n d t he p r i m i t i v e a n d a n c i e n t t he o r i e s o f
t w i n p a t e r n i t y p l a c e t w i n s i n a p o s i t i o n o f b r i d g i n g t he n a t u r a l a n d s u p e r n a t u r a l
w o r l d s . Tw i n s a r e t he l i v i n g e v i d e n c e o f e x u b e r a n t o r s u p e r n a t u r a l p r o c r e a t i v e
p o w e r s . Fo l l o w i n g f r o m t hi s f a c t , e x t r a o r d i n a r y p o w e r s f a l l t o t he t w i n a s t he
i n he r i t a n c e f r o m hi s u n i q u e p a r e n t a g e . In p a r t i c u l a r i t m i g ht b e e x p e c t e d t ha t t w i n s
w i l l ha v e g r e a t p o w e r s i n r e l a t i o n t o f e r t i l i t y, b o t h i n hu m a n a n d n o n -hu m a n s p e c i e s .
The a b i l i t y t o i n f l u e n c e f e r t i l i t y w i l l b e r e f l e c t e d i n p o w e r s o f f r u c t i f yi n g t he b a r r e n
w o m a n a s w e l l a s r e j u v e n a t i n g t he e f f e t e m a l e . Mi g ht n o t t he s e p o w e r s o v e r f e r t i l i t y
b e e x t e n d e d t o r e s t o r a t i o n o f he a l t h a n d o f he a l i n g g e n e r a l l y?
Cl o s e l y a k i n t o p o w e r s o v e r n a t u r e ' s g e n e r o s i t y i s t he a b i l i t y t o p r e d i c t t he o u t c o m e
o f c r o p s , t he w e a t he r u p o n w hi c h c r o p s d e p e n d , a n d t he o f f s p r i n g o f d o m e s t i c a t e d
a n i m a l s . Thu s , t he d i v i n e t w i n ha s b r o a d p r o g n o s t i c a t o r p o w e r s w hi c h i n t u r n a r e
r e l a t e d t o o t he r m o r e g e n e r a l a b i l i t i e s a t f o r e t e l l i n g , s u c h a s t he o u t c o m e o f b a t t l e a n d
t he n a v i g a t i o n o f v o ya g e s .
Whe r e t w i n s d o n o t e x i s t , m a n ' s i m a g i n a t i o n ha s s o m e t i m e s c r e a t e d t he m . It i s a
w i d e l y he l d p r i m i t i v e b e l i e f t ha t t he p r o d u c t s o f c o n c e p t i o n a l o n g w i t h t he f e t u s a r e
31 4 HANKOFF
HEALING TWINS
v i t a l p a r t s w i t h a c o n t i n u i n g l i f e o f t he i r o w n a f t e r b i r t h. The y a r e d e a l t w i t h i n
v a r i o u s c e r e m o n i a l w a ys i n p r i m i t i v e s o c i e t i e s . In s o m e t r i b e s t he p l a c e n t a i s r e g a r d e d
a s t he i n d i v i d u a l ' s t w i n . The Ha m i t i c t r i b e s o f Af r i c a t r e a t t he p l a c e n t a w i t h p a r t i c u -
l a r r e v e r e n c e a n d ha v e s p e c i f i c r i t u a l s p e r t a i n i n g t o t he p l a c e n t a [ 6 0 ] . The Ko o b o o s o f
s o u t he a s t e r n S u m a t r a r e g a r d e d t he u t e r i n e p r o d u c t s a s s i b l i n g s a n d g u a r d i a n s p i r i t s
o f t he n e w b o r n [ 6 1 ] .
In a n c i e n t Eg yp t , i n t he e a r l i e s t d yn a s t i e s , t he p ha r a o h' s u m b i l i c a l c o r d w a s
p r e s e r v e d a n d c a r r i e d i n a s p e c i f i c k i n d o f a c a s e d u r i n g hi s l i f e t i m e [ 6 2 ] . The f a m o u s
Na r m e r p a l e t t e f r o m t he a r c ha i c p e r i o d o f Eg yp t i a n hi s t o r y c o n t a i n s a d r a w i n g o f t he
c a r r yi n g c a s e o f t he c o r d a n d a b e a r d l e s s s e r v a n t b e a r i n g t he p l a c e n t a o n a s t a n d a r d
[ 6 3] . La t e r , i n t he Ne w Ki n g d o m a m o d e l w a s s u b s t i t u t e d f o r t he p l a c e n t a [ 6 4 ] . The
p l a c e n t a w a s b e l i e v e d t o b e t he p ha r a o h' s t w i n [ 6 5 ] . It ha s b e e n s u g g e s t e d t ha t t he
p a i r e d p yr a m i d s o f t he p ha r a o hs a r e t he r e s p e c t i v e t o m b s o f a p ha r a o h a n d hi s
p l a c e n t a [ 6 6 ] .
Am o n g t he Ba g a n d a n a n d o t he r No r t h Ea s t Af r i c a n t r i b e s t he p l a c e n t a a n d c o r d o f
t he k i n g a r e p r e s e r v e d t hr o u g ho u t hi s l i f e a s s a c r e d r i t u a l o b j e c t s [ 6 7 ] . Thi s i s o f
p a r t i c u l a r s i g n i f i c a n c e s i n c e t he t r i b e s o f No r t h Ea s t Af r i c a a r e b e l i e v e d t o s ha r e a
c o m m o n Ha m i t i c o r i g i n w i t h a n c i e n t Eg yp t a n d s ho w o t he r r e s e m b l a n c e s i n t he i r
r e l i g i o u s p r a c t i c e s t o t ho s e o f a n c i e n t Eg yp t [ 6 8 ] . The a n c i e n t d r a w i n g s o f t he
c a r r yi n g c a s e f o r t he p ha r a o h' s c o r d r e s e m b l e a s i m i l a r a r t i c l e u s e d b y t he Ba g a n d a n
a n d Ug a n d a n n a t i v e s [ 6 9 ] . The Ba g a n d a n e m p l o y t he p r e s e r v e d p l a c e n t a o f t he k i n g
i n a m o n t hl y r i t u a l d i s p l a y o f t he a f t e r b i r t h t o t he n e w m o o n [ 7 0 ] . Up o n t he k i n g ' s
d e a t h t he p l a c e n t a a n d k i n g a r e g i v e n s e p a r a t e b u r i a l s j u s t a s t w o t o m b s w e r e
p r o v i d e d f o r t he Eg yp t i a n k i n g .
The a n c i e n t Eg yp t i a n v i e w e d t he a f t e r l i f e e x i s t e n c e w i t h a b s o l u t e c o n v i c t i o n a n d
m a i n t a i n e d a hi g hl y e l a b o r a t e f o r m u l a t i o n o f t he e m a n a t i o n s o r s p i r i t u a l a s p e c t s o f
m a n . The i r b e l i e f s ys t e m i n c l u d e d t he n o n -c o r p o r e a l e n t i t i e s c a l l e d t he Ka , Ba , a n d
Ak h w hi c h e x i s t e d f o r e a c h i n d i v i d u a l . Ea c h o f t he s e e n t i t i e s ha s s p e c i f i c r o l e s o r
f u n c t i o n s b o t h d u r i n g l i f e a n d a f t e r d e a t h.
It i s t he Ka w hi c h i s o f p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t t o u s he r e s i n c e i t w a s b e l i e v e d t o b e t he
p ha r a o h' s d o u b l e . In a s i m u l t a n e o u s a c t o f c r e a t i o n , t he p ha r a o h a n d hi s d o u b l e w e r e
f a s hi o n e d b y t he c r e a t o r g o d Khn u m . Khn u m o r Khn e m u i s p o r t r a ye d i n t e m p l e a r t
a s a r a m -he a d e d p o t t e r w ho m o d e l s t he p ha r a o h a n d hi s d o u b l e o n hi s p o t t e r ' s w he e l
[ 7 1 ] . Thi s d o u b l e , c a l l e d t he Ka , w a s a n i n v i s i b l e g u i d i n g g e n i u s t hr o u g ho u t l i f e w hi c h
a s s u m e d c r i t i c a l i m p o r t a n c e i n t he c o n t i n u i t y o f t he k i n g s hi p u p o n t he d e a t h o f t he
p ha r a o h [ 7 2 ] . In t he a f t e r l i f e , t he Ka w a s t he s i g n i f i c a n t f o r c e m a i n t a i n i n g t he
" he a l t h" a n d v i t a l i t y o f t he d e a d p ha r a o h. To m b o f f e r i n g s w e r e m a d e a n d p r a ye r s
d i r e c t e d t o t he Ka s o t ha t i t m i g ht e x e r c i s e i t s b e n i g n i n f l u e n c e o v e r t he d e a d k i n g
[ 7 3] . In a d d i t i o n t he l i v i n g s u c c e s s o r t o t he d e a d p ha r a o h d e p e n d e d o n t he Ka t o
t r a n s m i t t he v i t a l p o w e r o f t he k i n g s hi p t o hi m [ 7 4 ] . Thu s t he p l a c e n t a -d o u b l e o f t he
p ha r a o h w hi c h b e c o m e s t he Ka i s a hi g hl y i m p o r t a n t e l e m e n t i n t he k i n g ' s w e l l -b e i n g ,
b o t h l i v i n g a n d d e a d . The p ha r a o h i s d e p e n d e n t o n hi s p l a c e n t a i n e f f e c t f o r hi s
r e b i r t h.
The p l a c e n t a o f t he p ha r a o h a p p e a r s a l s o t o ha v e r e p r e s e n t e d t he m o o n . The
hi e r o g l yp hi c s f o r " p ha r a o h' s p l a c e n t a " i s
a l s o
t he s p e l l i n g f o r Kho n s o r Kho n s u , t he
m o o n -g o d , s o n o f Am o n a n d Mu t . [ 7 5 ] . Am o n a n d Mu t a r e t he m a l e a n d f e m a l e
c r e a t o r g o d s w ho w i t h Kho n s f o r m e d t he The b a n t r i a d o r ho l y f a m i l y o f Eg yp t i a n
r e l i g i o n . The m o o n -g o d w a s ha w k -he a d e d , he l d s w a y o v e r r e p r o d u c t i o n a n d g r o w t h,
a n d w a s l a b e l e d " t he t r a v e l e r " a s b e f i t s hi s l u n a r w a n d e r i n g s [ 7 6 ] . In t he Eg yp t i a n
c o s m o l o g y o f He r m o p o l i s t he m o o n g o d Tho t h a n d s u n g o d Re a r e a d d r e s s e d a s
31 5
t w i n s [ 7 7 ] . The p ha r a o h a n d hi s p l a c e n t a p r o v i d e d a p a r a l l e l t w i n s hi p t o t he s u n a n d
m o o n .
The s k y i n Eg yp t i a n m yt ho l o g y w a s c o n c e i v e d a s a g r e a t f a c e w i t h t he s u n a n d
m o o n a s i t s t w o e ye s . The Eg yp t i a n s d e s i g n a t e d s e v e r a l g o d s a s t he s u n a n d m o o n ,
d i f f e r e n t g o d s p e r s o n i f yi n g t he g r e a t o r b s i n t he c o u r s e o f e v o l v i n g Eg yp t i a n r e l i g i o u s
hi s t o r y [ 7 8 ] . S e v e r a l o f t he m o o n g o d s w e r e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h he a l i n g . Tho t h w a s a g o d
o f w i s d o m a n d p a t r o n o f t he s c i e n c e s . Hi s m o s t s e n s a t i o n a l c u r e w a s i n r e l a t i o n t o t he
w o u n d s i n f l i c t e d i n t he c o n f l i c t b e t w e e n t he g o d s Ho r u s a n d S e t h. He s e p a r a t e d t he
c o m b a t a n t s , he a l e d t he i r w o u n d s , a n d t he n r e p l a c e d Ho r u s ' e ye w hi c h ha d b e e n
p l u c k e d o u t i n t he s t r u g g l e
[ 7 9 ] .
Tho t h a l s o a s s i s t s Is i s i n r e s t o r i n g t o l i f e t he i n f a n t
Ho r u s [ 8 0 ] . Kho n s , t he p l a c e n t a -m o o n g o d , a l s o d e m o n s t r a t e s m a g i c he a l i n g a b i l i t i e s
[ 8 1 ] . Khn u m , t he p o t t e r -c r e a t o r , w ho m a d e t he p ha r a o h' s Ka , i s a l s o a m o o n g o d .
It i s a p p a r e n t t ha t t he Eg yp t i a n w a s u n t r o u b l e d b y c o n f l i c t i n g r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s a n d
m e a n i n g s f o r t he s a m e o b j e c t . It w a s t hi s t yp e o f m e n t a l p r o c e s s , c a l l e d b y Fr a n k f o r t
a " 6 m u l t i p l i c i t y o f a p p r o a c he s , " w hi c h p e r m i t t e d t he Eg yp t i a n t hi n k e r t o l i n k t o g e t he r
t hr e e d i f f e r e n t a n d b a f f l i n g d u a l i t i e s o f n a t u r e i n t o a s i n g l e s ys t e m . The n e w b o r n a n d
hi s p l a c e n t a , t he s u n a n d t he m o o n , a n d t he c o r p o r e a l a n d n o n -c o r p o r e a l a s p e c t s o f
m a n w e r e w o v e n i n t o a s ys t e m o f d u a l i s t i c s ym b o l i c f o r m s . The s e v a r i o u s " t w i n s "
w e r e t he n p i c t u r e d , c o p i e d , a n d s ym b o l i z e d f o r t he p l e a s u r e , s a t i s f a c t i o n , a n d s o l a c e
o f t he Eg yp t i a n i n t he c o u r s e o f hi s d a i l y w o r s hi p a n d r i t u a l .
An i n t e r e s t i n g v a r i a t i o n o n t he t w i n t he m e o c c u r s i n Eg yp t i a n m yt ho l o g y i n t he
a c c o u n t o f t he b i r t h o f Ho r u s . Thi s a c c o u n t i s a r e v e r s a l o f t w i n b i r t h b y ha v i n g o n e
i n d i v i d u a l b o r n t w i c e . Os i r i s i m p r e g n a t e s hi s t w o s i s t e r s w ho e a c h g i v e b i r t h t o Ho r u s
[ 8 2 ] . Ho r u s c o m p l e t e s t he n o n -l o g i c a l c yc l e b y ha v i n g t w o b u r i a l p l a c e s [ 8 3] .
In s u m m a r y t he r e l i g i o n o f a n c i e n t Eg yp t m a d e u s e o f t he t w i n i n i m p o r t a n t w a ys
a s a b r i d g e t o t he s p i r i t u a l w o r l d . The a n c i e n t Eg yp t i a n s i m u l t a n e o u s l y r e g a r d e d t he
p ha r a o h' s p l a c e n t a a s ( a ) hi s t w i n , ( b ) a s p i r i t u a l e m a n a t i o n o f s u p r e m e i m p o r t a n c e ,
t he Ka , a n d ( c ) a n e q u i v a l e n t o f t he m o o n a s t he g o d Kho n s . The p l a c e n t a i s t he l u n a r
t w i n t o t he p ha r a o h i n hi s r o l e a s a g o d i n c a r n a t e a n d t he e a r t hl y e m a n a t i o n o f t he
s u n . Thu s , p ha r a o h a n d p l a c e n t a a r e t he m a t e r i a l r e f l e c t i o n s o f s u n a n d m o o n a n d a
b a s i s f o r a n Eg yp t i a n r e l i g i o u s d u a l i s t i c f o r m u l a t i o n . Thr o u g ho u t t he d u a l i s t i c
f o r m u l a t i o n , p o w e r s o f he a l i n g , he a l t h-g r a n t i n g , o r r e j u v e n a t i o n a r e r e g u l a r l y a t t r i b -
u t e d t o t he d i v i n e p a r t i c i p a n t s .
EP ICRIS IS
The q u e s t i o n o f t he b a s i s f o r t he m yt ho l o g i c a l a s s o c i a t i o n o f t w i n s a n d he a l i n g m a y
b e r e l a t e d b a c k t o a l i n k i n g t he m e o f p r o c r e a t i o n . Tw i n s a r e t he l i v i n g e m b o d i m e n t
a n d n a t u r a l s ym b o l o f e x u b e r a n t a n d u n i q u e r e p r o d u c t i o n . As a n e x t e n s i o n o f t w i n
s ym b o l i s m , t he o t he r p r o d u c t s o f c o n c e p t i o n a r e s o m e t i m e s c o n s i d e r e d a s s i b l i n g s .
Tw i n s i n f o l k l o r e ha v e b e e n u n i v e r s a l l y v i e w e d a s a l i v i n g i n d i c a t i o n o f i n c r e a s e d o r
a l t e r e d f e r t i l i t y. Fo r b o t h p r i m i t i v e a n d a n c i e n t m a n t w i n s w e r e i n t e r p r e t e d a s t he
o u t c o m e o f s u p e r hu m a n g e n e r a t i v i t y. Fo l l o w i n g f r o m t hi s t w i n s w e r e t ho u g ht t o
ha v e s p e c i a l p o w e r s o f t he i r o w n i n he r i t e d f r o m t he i r e x c e p t i o n a l p r o c r e a t o r s . Whe n
t he p l a c e n t a ha s b e e n v i e w e d a s a t w i n , i t ha s b e e n v e n e r a t e d a n d c l o s e l y a s s o c i a t e d
w i t h t he w e l l -b e i n g o f i t s o r i g i n a l o w n e r . In t he c a s e o f t he a n c i e n t Eg yp t i a n s , t he
p l a c e n t a w a s e q u a t e d w i t h a n o n -c o r p o r e a l e n t i t y w hi c h w a s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t he
p ha r a o h' s v i t a l i t y a n d t r a n s m i s s i o n o f hi s p o w e r i n d e a t h t o hi s s u c c e s s o r .
The p o w e r s o f m yt ho l o g i c a l a n d l e g e n d a r y t w i n s i n r e l a t i o n t o r e p r o d u c t i o n ha v e
b e e n w i d e l y e l a b o r a t e d i n t o a r e c u r r i n g f o l k l o r i s t i c p a t t e r n , i n c l u d i n g t he a b i l i t y ( a )
t o m a k e f e r t i l e t he b a r r e n w i f e , ( b ) t o f a c i l i t a t e c hi l d b i r t h, ( c ) t o r e s t o r e yo u t h a n d
31 6
HANKOFF
HEALING TWINS 31 7
p o t e n c y t o t he a g e d , ( d ) t o i n c r e a s e ha r v e s t s f r o m b o t h p l a n t a n d a n i m a l s o u r c e s , a n d
( e ) t o i n f l u e n c e t he w e a t he r u p o n w hi c h ha r v e s t s d e p e n d . Cl o s e l y r e l a t e d t o t hi s g r o u p
o f g e n e r a t i v e a t t r i b u t e s i s t he l o r e i n v o l v i n g t he s p e c i a l a b i l i t y o f t w i n s t o p r e d i c t t he
f u t u r e o r t o p r o g n o s t i c a t e : c r o p s , o f f s p r i n g , w e a t he r , w a r f a r e .
The s u p e r n a t u r a l p o w e r s o f t w i n s a r e r e a d i l y r e l a t a b l e t o t he a r e a s o f he a l t h a n d
he a l i n g . The t w i n e m p o w e r e d w i t h t he a b i l i t y t o e a s e b i r t h p a n g s o r r e v e r s e s t e r i l i t y
w i l l n a t u r a l l y b e s o u g ht f o r b r o a d e r he a l t h c a r e a s s i g n m e n t s . Thu s , w e m a y v i e w t he
b r o a d a s s o c i a t i o n o f t w i n s a n d he a l i n g a s s t e m m i n g f r o m t he i r o w n e x c e p t i o n a l
p r o c r e a t i o n a s e l a b o r a t e d i n f o l k l o r e .
REFERENCES
1 . Fr o m a hym n a d d r e s s e d t o t he d i v i n e As hv i n s e x t o l l i n g t he i r w o n d e r f u l d e e d s , Ri g v e d a X . 39 . 8 , i n Ad o l f Ka e g i , The
Ri g v e d a : The Ol d e s t Li t e r a t u r e o f t he In d i a n s , 2 n d e d . , t r a n s . R. Ar r o w s m i t h ( Ne w De l hi , 1 9 7 2 ) , p p . 5 0 -5 1 .
2 . He n r y E. S i g e r i s t , A Hi s t o r y o f Me d i c i n e , 2 v o l s . ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 6 1 ) , II, 1 5 4 .
3. The f o l k l o r e o f t w i n s i s w e l l r e v i e w e d i n : Ja m e s Re n d e l Ha r r i s , Bo a n e r g e s ( Ca m b r i d g e , 1 9 1 3) ; Ed w i n S i d n e y
Ha r t l a n d , P r i m i t i v e P a t e r n i t y: The Myt h o f S u p e r n a t u r a l Bi r t h i n Re l a t i o n t o The Hi s t o r y o f The Fa m i l y, 2 v o l s .
( Lo n d o n , 1 9 0 9 ) ; Ja m e s Ha s t i n g s , e d . , En c yc l o p e d i a o f Re l i g i o n a n d Et hi c s , 1 3 v o l s . ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 5 5 ) , X II, 4 9 1 -5 0 0 ;
Al e x a n d e r Ha g g e r t y Kr a p p e , The S c i e n c e o f Fo l k l o r e , ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 2 9 ) ; Ma r i a Le a c h, e d . , Fu n k a n d Wa g n a l l s S t a n d a r d
Di c t i o n a r y o f Fo l k l o r e Myt ho l o g y a n d Le g e n d ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 4 9 ) , 2 v o l s . , I, 31 4 -31 5 .
4 . Ro b e r t Gr a v e s , The Gr e e k Myt hs , 2 v o l s . ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 5 7 ) , I, 1 7 3-1 7 8 .
5 . Ha s t i n g s ( n 3) ; Le a c h ( n 3) , II, 1 1 34 -1 1 36 .
6 . Co t t i e Bu r l a n d , No r t h Am e r i c a n In d i a n Myt ho l o g y ( Lo n d o n , 1 9 6 8 ) , p . 6 2 ; Le a c h ( n 3) , I, 4 7 4 .
7 . P a u l Ra d i n , The Ro a d o f Li f e a n d De a t h: A Ri t u a l Dr a m a o f The Am e r i c a n In d i a n s ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 4 5 ) , p p . 5 4 -5 5 ,
30 3; P a u l Ra d i n , The Wo r l d o f P r i m i t i v e Ma n ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 5 3) , p p . 31 0 -31 3.
8 . P a u l Ra d i n , The Tr i c k s t e r : A S t u d y i n Am e r i c a n In d i a n Myt ho l o g y ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 5 6 ) .
8 a . Re c i n o s , Ad r i a n , P o p u l V u h: The S a c r e d Bo o k o f t he An c i e n t Q u i c he Ma ya ( No r m a n , Ok l a . , 1 9 5 3) .
8 b . Ib i d . , p . 1 1 9 .
8 c . Ib i d . , p . 1 5 9 .
8 d . Ib i d . , p . 1 6 3.
9 . Ha r r i s ( n 3) , p p . L7 5 -L8 0 ; Al b r e c ht Go e t z e " Hu r r i a m u s -t w i n , " Jo u r n a l o f Cu n e i f o r m S t u d i e s , 1 9 4 8 , 2 , 1 37 -1 38 ,
r e p o r t s a r e f e r e n c e t o t w i n s a t t he he a d o f t he Hu r r i a n a n d Ug a r i t i c p a n t he o n s o f t he a n c i e n t Ne a r Ea s t .
1 0 . Mo n t a g u e Rho d e s Ja m e s , The Ap o c hr yp ha l Ne w Te s t a m e n t : Be i n g The Ap o c hr yp ha l Go s p e l s , Ac t s , Ep i s t l e s , a n d
Ap o c a l yp s e s ( Ox f o r d , 1 9 5 5 ) , p p . 36 5 -4 38 ; Wi l he l m S c hn e e m e l c he r , e d . , Ed g a r He n n e c k e Ne w Te s t a m e n t Ap o c r yp ha , 2
v o l s . , ( P hi l a d e l p hi a , 1 9 6 4 ) , II, 4 2 6 , 4 4 8 , 4 5 9 , 4 6 4 .
1 1 . S c hn e e m e l c he r ( n l O) , I, 2 8 7 .
1 2 . Gr a v e s ( n 4 ) , I, 2 5 2 ; N. G. L. Ha m m o n d a n d H. H. S c u l l a r d , e d s . , The Ox f o r d Cl a s s i c a l Di c t i o n a r y, 2 n d e d . ( Ox f o r d ,
1 9 7 0 ) , p . 35 4 .
1 3. Gr a v e s ( n 4 ) , I, 2 5 7 .
1 4 . Bu r l a n d ( n 6 ) , p p . 6 4 , 1 2 2 .
1 5 . Le a c h ( n 3) , II, 1 1 34 ; Cl a u d e Le v i -S t r a u s s , Fr o m Ho n e y t o As he s : In t r o d u c t i o n t o a S c i e n c e o f Myt ho l o g y: 2 ( Ne w
Yo r k , 1 9 7 3) , p . 2 2 2 ; Re c i n o s , ( n 8 a ) , p p . 1 0 9 , 1 30 .
1 6 . Fl a v i u s Jo s e p hu s , Je w i s h An t i q u i t i e s , i n Lo e b Cl a s s i c a l Li b r a r y Jo s e p hu s , 9 v o l s . ( Ca m b r i d g e , 1 9 6 7 ) , IV , 2 9 ; I,
1 . 6 1 ; Ro b e r t Gr a v e s a n d Ra p ha e l P a t a i , He b r e w Myt hs : The Bo o k o f Ge n e s i s , ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 6 6 ) , p . 9 4 .
1 7 . Gr a v e s ( n 4 ) , I, 2 37 .
1 8 . Le a c h ( n 3) , II, 1 1 34 -1 1 36 .
1 9 . Bu r l a n d ( n 6 ) , p . 6 2 .
2 0 . Gr a v e s ( n 4 ) , II, 1 8 .
2 1 . Ib i d . , I, 1 36 .
2 2 . Ib i d . , I, 2 4 8 .
2 3. Ib i d . , I, 1 5 9 .
2 3a . Re c i n o s ( n 8 a ) .
2 4 . Ib i d . , I, 1 4 3, 1 4 8 .
2 5 . Cl a u d e Le v i -S t r a u s s , S t r u c t u r a l An t hr o p o l o g y ( Ga r d e n Ci t y, Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 6 7 ) , p . 2 2 6 ; Cl a u d e Le v i -S t r a u s s , " The
S t r u c t u r a l S t u d y o f Myt h, " i n Tho m a s A. S e b e o k , e d . , Myt h: A S ym p o s i u m ( Bl o o m i n g t o n , 1 9 7 2 ) , p p . 8 1 -1 0 6 .
2 6 . Ra d i n , The Wo r l d ( n 7 ) , p . 37 ; P a u l Ra d i n , P r i m i t i v e Ma n As P hi l o s o p he r ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 5 7 ) , p p . 2 31 , 2 4 2 .
2 7 . Cl yd e Kl u c k ho hn , ' Myt hs a n d Ri t u a l s : A Ge n e r a l The o r y, ' Ha r v a r d The o l o g i c a l Re v i e w , 1 9 4 2 , 35 , 4 5 -7 9 .
2 8 . Wa l t e r A. Ja yn e , The He a l i n g Go d s o f An c i e n t Ci v i l i z a t i o n s ( Ne w Hyd e P a r k , Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 6 2 ) , p . 36 1 ; t he
31 8 HANKOFF
Ho m e r i c Hym n s t o t he Di o s c u r i i n Hu g h G. Ev e l yn -Whi t e , He s i o d , t he Ho m e r i c Hym n s , a n d Ho m e r i c a ( Lo n d o n , 1 9 7 0 ) ,
p p . 4 4 1 -4 6 1 -3.
2 9 . Mi r c e a El i a d e n o t e s t he a n c i e n t In d o -Eu r o p e a n r e l i g i o u s p a t t e r n i n w hi c h t he s u p r e m e c e l e s t i a l g o d ha s s e v e r a l
" s o n s " o r " m e s s e n g e r s " w ho s t a n d i n a he l p i n g r o l e t o hu m a n s , p a r t i c u l a r l y s ha m a n s , S ha m a n i s m : Ar c ha i c Te c hn i q u e s o f
Ec s t a s y ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 6 4 ) , p . 9 .
30 . Eu r i p i d e s , " He l e n " , 1 1 . 1 4 9 5 -1 5 0 0 , i n Da v i d Gr e n e a n d Ri c hm o n d La t t i m o r e , e d s . , The Co m p l e t e Gr e e k Tr a g e d i e s ,
4 v o l s . ( Chi c a g o , 1 9 5 9 ) , 0 0 0 . 4 7 4 .
31 . Ja m e s Ge o r g e Fr a z e r , The Go l d e n Bo u g h, 1 3 v o l s . ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 5 1 ) , I, 4 9 .
32 . Ib i d . , I, 4 6 8 , II, 1 0 2 .
33. Ib i d . , 1 , 2 6 2 .
34 . Ha s t i n g s ( n 3) , X II, 4 9 1 -5 0 0 .
35 . Fr a z e r ( n 32 ) , I, 2 6 8 .
36 . Ha r r i s ( n 3) , p . X V ; Ka e g i ( n l ) , p p . 4 9 -5 0 .
37 . Ha r r i s ( n 3) , p . 2 36 .
38 . Ca t ho l i c En c yc l o p e d i a , 1 6 v o l s . ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 1 3) , IV , 4 0 3-4 0 4 .
39 . Ar t hu r Be r n a r d Co o k , Z e u s : A S t u d y i n An c i e n t Re l i g i o n s , 2 v o l s . ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 6 5 ) , I, 1 6 8 ; Kr a p p e ( n 3) , p . 2 8 1 .
4 0 . Ma r t i n Ha u g , Es s a ys o n The S a c r e d La n g u a g e , Wr i t i n g s , a n d Re l i g i o n o f The P a r s e e s ( Bo m b a y, 1 8 6 2 ) , p . 2 34 ;
Ka e g i ( n l ) , p . 1 1 ; A. A. Ma c Do n e l l , V e d i c Myt ho l o g y ( S t r a s s b u r g , 1 8 9 7 ) , p p . 3, 7 ; D. Cho w r y Mu t hu , The An t i q u i t y o f
Hi n d u Me d i c i n e a n d Ci v i l i z a t i o n , 3r d e d . ( Bo s t o n , 1 9 7 1 ) .
4 1 . A. Be r r i e d a l e Ke i t h, ' In d i a n a n d Ir a n i a n Myt ho l o g y" i n Lo u i s He r b e r t Gr a y, e d . , The Myt ho l o g y o f An l Ra c e s , 1 3
v o l s . ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 6 4 ) , V I, 2 5 .
4 2 . Ha r r i s ( n 3) , p . 1 8 6 ; Ja yn e ( n 2 8 ) , 1 6 3-4 ; Ka e g i ( n l ) , p p . 4 9 -5 0 , 1 4 0 ; Ke i t h ( n 4 1 ) , V I, 30 -31 ; Jo hn Mu i r , Or i g i n a l
S a n s k r i t Te x t s : On t he Or i g i n a n d Hi s t o r y o f t he P e o p l e o f In d i a , The i r Re l i g i o n a n d In s t i t u t i o n s , 5 v o l s . ( Lo n d o n , 1 8 7 0 ) ,
V , 2 34 -2 5 7 .
4 3. Ab i n a s h Cha n d r a Bo s e , Hym n s f r o m t he V e d a s ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 6 6 ) , p . 2 7 5 .
4 4 . Fr o m t he hym n " To As hv i n s , " Ri g v e d a 2 . 39 . 7 , i n Bo s e ( n 4 3) , p . 2 7 7 .
4 5 . Le v i -S t r a u s s i n S e b e o k ( n 2 5 ) .
4 6 . Al a i n Da n i e l o u , Hi n d u P o l yt he i s m ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 6 4 ) , p p . 1 2 8 -1 2 9 ; Jo hn Do w s o n , A Cl a s s i c a l Di c t i o n a r y o f
Hi n d u Myt ho l o g y a n d Re l i g i o n , Ge o g r a p hy, Hi s t o r y, a n d Li t e r a t u r e ( Lo n d o n , 1 9 5 0 ) , p p . 2 7 8 , 2 8 3, 31 0 .
4 7 . Ha s t i n g s ( n 3) , X II, 4 9 1 -5 0 0 .
4 8 . Ha r r i s ( n 3) , p . i i i ; Ha r t l a n d ( n 2 ) , 1 , 1 5 0 -1 6 3.
4 9 . Fr a z e r ( n 31 ) , I, 2 6 7 .
5 0 . Gr a v e s ( n 4 ) , I, 1 4 8 .
5 1 . Ib i d . , I, 2 0 7 ; Ed w a r d Tr i p p , Cr o w e l l ' s Ha n d b o o k o f Cl a s s i c a l Myt ho l o g y ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 7 0 ) , p p . 2 1 1 -2 1 3, 2 5 0 .
5 2 . Gr a v e s a n d P a t a i ( n l 6 ) , p . 8 6 .
5 3. Ib i d . , p . 2 1 7 .
5 4 . Gr a v e s ( n 4 ) , I, 1 7 4 -7 , 2 37 , 2 5 0 -6 ; II, 1 7 5 , 2 7 0 .
5 5 . Ha r t l a n d ( n 3) , I, p . 37 .
5 6 . Ib i d . , 1 , 37 , 5 5 .
5 7 . Cl a u d e Le v i -S t r a u s s , To t e m i s m ( Bo s t o n , 1 9 6 3) , p . 7 9 .
5 8 . Ha r t l a n d ( n 3) , 1 , 1 9 0 .
5 9 . Fr a z e r ( n 31 ) , I, 2 6 5 .
6 0 . Co t t i e A. Bu r l a n d , Myt hs o f Li f e a n d De a t h ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 7 4 ) , p . 1 2 2 ; Ha s t i n g s ( n 3) , X II, 5 0 0 .
6 1 . Fr a z e r ( n 31 ) , " Af t e r m a t h, " 5 5 .
6 2 . C. G. S e l i g m a n n a n d M. A. Mu r r a y, " No t e Up o n a n Ea r l y Eg yp t i a n S t a n d a r d , " Ma n , 1 9 1 1 , II, 1 6 5 -1 7 1 .
6 3. He n r i Fr a n k f o r t , Ki n g s hi p a n d The Go d s ( Chi c a g o , 1 9 5 5 ) , p . 7 1 ; Ja m e s B. P r i t c ha r d , The An c i e n t Ne a r Ea s t i n
P i c t u r e s : Re l a t i n g t o The Ol d Te s t a m e n t , 2 n d e d . ( P r i n c e t o n , 1 9 6 9 ) , p . 2 8 3, Fi g . 2 9 7 ; S e l i g m a n a n d Mu r r a y ( n 6 2 ) .
6 4 . Ayl w a r d M. Bl a c k m a n , " S o m e Re m a r k s o n a n e m b l e m u p o n t he he a d o f a n a n c i e n t Eg yp t i a n b i r t h-g o d d e s s , "
Jo u r n a l o f Eg yp t i a n Ar c ha e o l o g y, 1 9 1 6 , 3, 1 9 9 -2 0 6 .
6 5 . Ayl w a r d M. Bl a c k m a n , " The P ha r a o h' s p l a c e n t a a n d t he Mo o n -Go d Kho n s , " Jo u r n a l o f Eg yp t i a n Ar c ha e o l o g y,
1 9 1 6 , 3, 2 35 -2 4 9 .
6 6 . S e l i g m a n a n d Mu r r a y ( n 6 2 ) .
6 7 . Bl a c k m a n ( n 6 4 ) .
6 8 . Ib i d . ; Ayl w a r d M. Bl a c k m a n , " Li b a t i o n s t o t he De a d i n Mo d e r n Nu b i a a n d An c i e n t Eg yp t , " Jo u r n a l o f Eg yp t i a n
Ar c ha e o l o g y, 1 9 1 6 , 3, 31 -34 ; Fr a n k f o r t ( n 6 3) , p . 34 8 ; S e l i g m a n a n d Mu r r a y ( n 6 2 ) .
6 9 . Bu r l a n d ( n 6 0 ) , p . 1 2 2 .
7 0 . Fr a z e r ( n 3 1 ) , V I, 1 4 7 ; S e l i g m a n a n d Mu r r a y ( n 6 2 ) .
7 1 . P r i t c ha r d ( n 6 3) , p . 1 9 0 , Fi g . 5 6 9 .
7 2 . He n r y Ja m e s Br e a s t e d , De v e l o p m e n t o f Re l i g i o n a n d Tho u g ht In An c i e n t Eg yp t ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 5 9 ) , p . 5 2 ;
Fr a n k f o r t ( n 6 3) , p . 7 1 ; He n r i Fr a n k f o r t , An c i e n t Eg yp t i a n Re l i g i o n : An In t e r p r e t a t i o n ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 4 8 ) , p p . 9 1 -9 3.
HEALING TWINS 31 9
7 3. Br e a s t e d ( n 7 2 ) , p . 5 2 .
7 4 . Fr a n k f o r t ( n 6 3) , p . 7 7 .
7 5 . Bl a c k m a n ( n 6 5 ) ; G. V a n d e r Le e u w , " The Mo o n -Go d Kho n s a n d t he k i n g ' s p l a c e n t a , " 7 he Jo u r n a l o f Eg yp t i a n
Ar c ha e o l o g y, 1 9 1 8 , 5 , 6 4 ; Al a n W. S ho r t e r , 7 he Eg yp t i a n Go d s : A Ha n d b o o k ( Lo n d o n , 1 9 37 ) , p . 1 7 .
7 6 . Bl a c k m a n ( n 6 5 ) ; S ho r t e r ( n 7 5 ) , p . 1 33.
7 7 . V a n d e r Le e u w ( n 7 5 ) .
7 8 . Fr o m e a r l i e s t Eg yp t i a n hi s t o r y o n w a r d t he s e p a r a t e r e l i g i o n s o f Re , Os i r i s , a n d S e t d e v e l o p e d , s o m e t i m e s i n
c o n c e r t , o t he r t i m e s i n c o m p e t i t i o n , t o p r o d u c e a b e w i l d e r i n g a r r a y o f d i v i n i t i e s , Wa l t e r B. Em e r y, Ar c ha i c Eg yp t
( Mi d d l e s e x , En g l a n d , 1 9 7 2 ) , p p . 1 1 9 -1 2 7 .
7 9 . C. J. Bl e e k e r , Ha t ho r a n d Tho t h: Tw o Ke y Fi g u r e s o f t he An c i e n t Eg yp t i a n Re l i g i o n ( Le i d e n , 1 9 7 3) , p . 1 2 2 ; Fr a z e r
( n 31 ) , V I, 1 7 .
8 0 . Fr a z e r ( n 31 ) , V I, 8 .
8 1 . An a c c o u n t o f t he he a l i n g b y Kho n s o f a p r i n c e s s w ho i s s i c k d u e t o p o s s e s s i o n b y a s p i r i t i s r e c o r d e d o n t he
Be n t r e s h S t e l a . S e e Ga s t o n Ma s p e r o , P o p u l a r S t o r i e s o f An c i e n t Eg yp t ( Ne w Yo r k , 1 9 6 7 ) , p . 1 7 2 ; Ja m e s B. P r i t c ha r d , e d . ,
An c i e n t Ne a r Ea s t e r n Te x t s Re l a t i n g t o The Ol d Te s t a m e n t , 3r d e d . ( P r i n c e t o n , N. J. , 1 9 6 9 ) , p p . 2 9 -31 .
8 2 . Gw yn J. Gr i f f i t hs , The Co n f l i c t o f Ho r u s a n d S e t h ( Li v e r p o o l , 1 9 6 0 ) , p . 9 3.
8 3. S a m u e l A. B. Me r c e r , Ho r u s Ro ya l Go d o f Eg yp t ( La n c a s t e r , 1 9 4 2 ) , p . 1 0 5 .
Le o n D. Ha n k o f f , M. D.
Mi s e r i c o r d i a Ho s p i t a l Me d i c a l Ce n t e r
6 0 0 Ea s t 2 33 S t r e e t
Br o n x , Ne w Yo r k 1 0 4 6 6