Callisto (mythology)

In Greek mythology, Callisto (/kəˈlɪstoʊ/; Ancient Greek: Καλλιστώ Greek pronunciation: [kallistɔ̌ː]) was a nymph, or the daughter of King Lycaon; the myth varies in such details. She was believed to be one of the followers of Artemis (Diana for the Romans) who attracted Zeus. Many versions of Callisto's story survive. According to some writers, Zeus transformed himself into the figure of Artemis to pursue Callisto, and she slept with him believing Zeus to be Artemis.^[1] She became pregnant and when this was eventually discovered, she was expelled from Artemis's group, after which a furious Hera, the wife of Zeus, transformed her into a bear, although in some versions, Artemis is the one to give her an ursine form. Later, just as she was about to be killed by her son when he was hunting, she was set among the stars as Ursa Major ("the Great Bear") by Zeus. She was the bear-mother of the Arcadians, through her son Arcas by Zeus.^[2]

In other accounts, the birth mother of Arcas was called Megisto, daughter of Ceteus, son of Lycaon,^[3] or else Themisto, daughter of Inachus.^[4]

The fourth Galilean moon of Jupiter and a main belt asteroid are named after Callisto.^[5]