Metamorphoses · Chapter
Story of Calisto explained
Jupiter, disguised as Diana, seduces the nymph Calisto.
What happens
Jupiter, disguised as Diana, seduces the nymph Calisto. When Diana discovers Calisto's pregnancy, she banishes her. Juno, in revenge, transforms Calisto into a bear. Years later, Calisto's son Arcas nearly kills her while hunting, but Jupiter intervenes and places both mother and son in the sky as constellations. Juno, enraged, appeals to Ocean and Tethys to refuse them harbor.
Themes in this chapter
Transformation and Metamorphosis
Calisto is transformed into a bear by Juno, and later both she and her son are changed into constellations.
Divine Power and Human Folly
Jupiter's deception and Juno's vengeful transformation demonstrate the capricious and absolute power of the gods over mortals.
Love and Desire
Jupiter's lust for Calisto drives the narrative, leading to her downfall and subsequent metamorphosis.
Characters to notice
- Jove
Disguises himself as Diana to seduce Calisto, then later transforms her and her son into constellations.
- Juno
In her jealousy, transforms Calisto into a bear and later protests to Ocean and Tethys about Calisto's celestial honor.
- Diana
The chaste goddess whose form Jupiter borrows; she banishes Calisto upon discovering her pregnancy.
- Callisto
A nymph of Diana's train, seduced by Jupiter, transformed into a bear by Juno, and later placed among the stars.
- Argus
His eyes are mentioned as adorning the peacock's tail, a detail from Juno's revenge.
Key passages
“Jove saw the charming huntress unprepared, Stretch'd on the verdant turf, without a guard.”
Jupiter noticed the unsuspecting huntress lying defenseless on the grass.
Jupiter's opportunistic desire leads him to disguise himself as Diana.
“The goddess cast a furious look, and cried, 'It is enough! I'm fully satisfied! This boy shall stand a living mark, to prove My husband's baseness and the harlot's love.'”
Juno angrily declares that the child will be a permanent reminder of Jupiter's infidelity and Calisto's guilt.
Juno's vengeful speech sets the stage for Calisto's transformation.
“Her arms grow shaggy and deform'd with hair, Her nails are sharpen'd into pointed claws, Her hands bear half her weight and turn to paws.”
Calisto's arms become hairy and clawed, and her hands become bear paws.
The physical transformation from human to bear is described in vivid detail.
“But Jove forbade, and snatch'd them through the air In whirlwinds up to heaven, and fix'd them there; Where the new constellations nightly rise, And add a lustre to the northern skies.”
Jupiter prevented the tragedy by sweeping both mother and son into the sky, where they became stars.
The final metamorphosis elevates Calisto and Arcas to celestial status.