Vintage Photos Expose The Strange Fixation On Twins Throughout History

Of course people are drawn to twins. We’re taught that everyone is different, so when two people who look virtually identical stand next to each other, it’s somehow magical. It runs much deeper than that, though. There is something otherworldly about the twins phenomenon and if rumors are to be believed, it’s more than skin deep.

Have you ever heard of the supernatural link twins supposedly share? An unbreakable bond that transcends distance? It’s a common belief, but it’s so persistent that it does make you wonder if there’s any substance to it. Perhaps this is why twins are a recurring subject in photography. Either way, truth is indeed sometimes stranger than fiction if the reports are anything to go by. 

The mysterious nature of twins has become a common trope in our subconscious. It even raises its heads on our screens. Some of the most memorable movie moments — particularly in horror — leverage the mystery of twins. The scary ghost sisters in Stephen King’s The Shining is a prime example; apparently it was a role that came easily to actors Louise and Lisa Grady. “We’re naturally spooky,” they told Cosmopolitan magazine in 2019. 

Chang and Eng Bunker are one of the earliest examples of famous twins. When they first arrived on the scene, so many photographers wanted to capture them there was a media frenzy. That’s because they were conjoined. In fact, they were the originators of the now-frowned-upon phrase “Siamese twins” and they were so popular it became an umbrella term for anyone with the conjoined condition. It was a unique occurrence to most people of the age.