Callisto

views updated May 29 2018

Callisto in Greek mythology, a nymph, an attendant of Artemis, who was the lover of Zeus and mother of his son Arcas; she was turned into a bear either by Zeus to save her from the anger of his wife Hera or by Hera and Artemis in vengeance; later she was placed as a constellation in the heavens by Zeus (see also Ursa Major).