Mythical Bears

Callisto

Callisto (Mythology)

According to Greek mythology, Callisto was a and a follower of . Zeus developed an attraction to Callisto and turned himself into Artemis to lure Callisto. After Callisto became pregnant, she was expelled from Artemis’ hunting group. Once Hera found out, she turned Callisto into a bear. As she was about to be hunted by her son, they were was set among the stars as Ursa Major and Minor (“the Great Bear” and “the Little Bear” constellations) by Zeus.

 

Above is an image of Hera turning Callisto into a bear.

 

Favourite Foods

Callisto probably favoured the same foods as Artemis.

 

Media Attributions

  • Metamorphoses_28_Juno_turning_Callisto_into_a_bear_PK-P-109.349

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

A Guide to Bears Copyright © by Toronto Metropolitan University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book