Callisto’s Fate

Callisto’s story is one of many wherein a youth wrongfully feels the wrath of the divine through no fault of their own. 

Callisto’s father had been a king of Arcadia, and she herself a maiden follower of Artemis. Callisto’s beauty alone would be her downfall, as Zeus saw her and fell in love. Hera in her jealous rage transformed Callisto into a bear; however, a son by Zeus was already birthed by the name of Arcas. When Arcas was grown and hunting, Hera intended for his happening along his mother as a bear so he would mistakenly kill her. 

Zeus prevented this by snatching Callisto from harm’s way and placing her among the stars where she is called the Great Bear. Her son twinkles alongside her in the sky as the Lesser Bear.             

Hera was undoubtedly furious at this honor given to her rivals and beseeched Poseidon to never allow the stars of Ursa Major and Ursa Minor to touch his waters. Thus providing a poetic explanation for why the constellations never set below the horizon in their circumpolar path.

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From: Berens, E.M. The Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome. New York: Maynard, Merril, & Co., 1880. Text in the public domain:

The mortal consorts of Zeus have been such a favourite theme with poets, painters, and sculptors, that it is necessary to give some account of their individual history. Those best known are Antiope, Leda, Europa, Callisto, Alcmene, Semele, Io, and Danae…

Callisto

Καλλιστώ (Callisto), the daughter of Lycaon, king of Arcadia, was a huntress in the train of Artemis, devoted to the pleasures of the chase, who had made a vow never to marry; but Zeus, under the form of the huntress-goddess, succeeded in obtaining her affections. Hera, being extremely jealous of her, changed her into a bear, and caused Artemis (who failed to recognize her attendant under this form) to hunt her in the chase, and put an end to her existence.

After her death she was placed by Zeus among the stars as a constellation, under the name of Arctos, or the bear.