Reading Notes: Ovid's Metamorphoses Part A

Callisto

Story source: Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Tony Kline (2000).

Diana and Callisto by Peter Paul Rubens

Jupiter sees a girl from Nonacris that is one of Diana's most loyal companions, Callisto. Diana's handmaidens had to take an oath to swear off men and remain chaste. Jupiter pursues Callisto wearing the face and dress of Diana, and impregnates her. After the act had happened she was called by the other nymphs; she tried to hide her shame but they all could sense it. Nine moons passed when one day Diana told her maidens to all bathe together naked in a stream. Callisto tries to hide her swollen belly, but Diana realizes she is pregnant and commands her to leave. Callisto then gave birth to a boy, Arcas, which deeply angered Juno; she grabbed Callisto by her hair who slowly transformed into a bear. When Arcas turned fifteen he went hunting in the woods where he came across the bear that was his mother. Callisto recognized her son and tried to approach him, but he raised his spear to pierce her chest. Jupiter then turned them both into constellations, Ursa Minor and Ursa Major.