Myth of Kallisto

    The ancient Greeks used to explain things they couldn't understand with myths.The story of Kallisto is such a myth, created for the sake of two beautiful constellations,

the Ursa Major and the Ursa Minor.

   Kallisto was the daughter of Lykaon, king of Arcadia and follower in hunting of goddess Artemis. Kallisto, whose name means "the most beautiful", had sworn the goddess to remain virgin for all her life, as did all the companions of Artemis. 

   However, one day, Zeus saw her and after many attempts, he seduced her. Soon, the girl realized that she was pregnant and a few months later, Kallisto delivered a son, who was named Arcas.

   The betrayed wife of Zeus , Hera decided to take revenge

by transforming Kallisto into a bear. Years passed, and one day, as the young Arcas was hunting in the forest, his transformed mother emerged from the foliage and ran eagerly to embrace him. Terrified, the son, who didn't know the truth about his mother, seeing the bear approaching, prepared to kill her with his spear.

   Zeus, unable to bear the pain of matricide, transported mother and son to the sky and transformed them into constellations so they could eternally enjoy the nights together, close to one another.

   The mother became the constellation of the **Great Bear (Ursa Major)**, the crown of the northern hemisphere’s sky,

and her son, Arcas, became the constellation of the **Little Bear (Ursa Minor)**. 

   However, when Hera looked to the sky, she realized that the two new constellations were her husband’s doing. She immediately ordered to god Poseidon, never to allow the two constellations to rest in his watery realm. 

   Since then, they have been circumpolar,

meaning visible all year round, condemned never to rise or set,

and thus never able to cool themselves in the sea.

                         But still together for the eternity.!