Callisto, in Greek mythology, an attendant of Artemis. Because she forsook her chastity and bore a son, Arcas, to Zeus, she was transformed into a bear by Artemis. According to another legend she was changed into a bear by the jealous Hera. Arcas, while out hunting, was about to kill her when Zeus intervened and transferred them both to the heavens, Callisto becoming the constellation Ursa Major [great bear] and Arcas becoming Arcturus.

Callisto, in astronomy, one of the 39 known moons, or natural satellites, of Jupiter.

In Greek mythology, a nymph and a hunting companion of Artemis. Though she vowed never to wed, she was seduced by Zeus, who turned her into a she-bear to conceal his infidelity from the jealous Hera. She was then killed by Artemis during a hunt. Other versions hold that it was Artemis or Hera, enraged at her unchastity, who turned her into a bear. After her death Zeus placed her in the heavens as the constellation Ursa Major (Great Bear).

Learn more about Callisto with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Callisto can refer to:

• Callisto (mythology), nymph
• Callisto (moon), moon of Jupiter
• Callisto (band), Finnish metal band.
• Eclipse (software)#Callisto, version 3.2 of Eclipse, a Java IDE
• Callisto (Vancouver), a building in Vancouver, CanadaIn art, literature etc.:
• Callisto (Xena), recurring character on the popular TV series Xena: Warrior Princess
• Callisto (Xena: Warrior Princess episode), episode of Xena: Warrior Princess
• Callisto (comics), fictional mutant in the X-Men comic book series
• Callisto (novel)'', novel by Torsten Krol
• Callisto series, sequence of novels by Lin Carter

See also

• Calisto