The Cult of the Heavenly Twins. By J. Handel Harris,
D.Litt. (Cambridge University Press. 6s.)—There are many curiosities in this book ; the more generally interesting of these will be the suggested presence of the Heavenly Twins—Dioscurism, to use the scientific term—in the Christian Calendar. An example is found in SS. Protasius and Gervasius. The latter name is to be identified, it is said, with one which one hardly expects in this connection,—" Jarvey," the popular name of the driver of a hackney carriage. We must remember that Castor was the horse- tamer. The two appeared in their usual capacity of champions ,in 1266 A.D., when at the prayer of the Polish Queen, Kings, they helped to put to flight the Ruthenians. SS. Cosmas and Damian furnish another example. So, possibly, do Crispin and Crispinian. The book is full of curious lore which those interested in such matters should certainly study for themselves. We can give no notion of it here.
Previous page
