Reference

The Dioscuri were broadly viewed as helper gods, but they were especially connected with sailors and sea travel. They were believed to appear to sailors in distress as St. Elmo's fire—an electrical phenomenon that forms around rod-like objects (such as a ship's mast) during thunderstorms.

For sailors, they were especially important because they were said to cause the phenomenon we call St. Elmo's Fire today. It's when things that are high up gain static electricity before a thunderstorm and start to glow. Back in the day, though, sailors thought this was a sign from the Dioscuri that the ship would weather the storm.

The Dióskouri are protectors of sailors. They are thought to be the phenomenon known as St. Elmo's fire, that is, a particular aithîrial glow or fire appearing on the masts of ships (and other things) usually during thunderstorms. When there are two plasmas, it is thought of as the Dióskouri; when one, it is called Ælǽnî. They are the