The myth of Callisto
The Priestess Who Was Transformed into a Bear
Callisto, a priestess devoted to the goddess of the hunt, was the daughter of King Lycaon of Arcadia and a faithful companion of Artemis. Her extraordinary beauty caught the attention of Zeus, who made her one of his many lovers. Enraged by this betrayal, Artemis banished Callisto from her sacred retinue. Pregnant with the child of the king of the gods, she wandered alone through the dense forests of Arcadia, where she gave birth to her son, Arcas, beneath a plane tree. But the jealous gaze of Hera did not overlook what had happened.
Seeking revenge on Zeus, his betrayed wife transformed Callisto into a bear. Years passed, and one day, as the young Arcas was hunting in the forest, his transformed mother emerged from the undergrowth and rushed towards him, longing to embrace her son. Terrified at the sight of the approaching bear, Arcas raised his spear, ready to kill her. Unable to bear the tragedy of a son unknowingly killing his own mother, Zeus intervened. He lifted them both into the heavens, transforming them into constellations so they could remain together for eternity. Callisto became the constellation Ursa Major, while her son Arcas became Ursa Minor.
When Hera looked up at the night sky, she immediately realised that these new constellations were the work of Zeus. Furious once again, she ordered Oceanus never to allow them to sink beneath his waters.
From that day on, they became circumpolar constellations, visible throughout the year and destined never to rise or set, never finding rest beneath the sea.
Callisto’s mission is just as enduring. It lives on in the mountains of Greece, wherever wildlife still survives and where nature can no longer withstand further destruction. There, the priestess returns to Earth.
