Megisto (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Megisto (Ancient Greek: Μεγιστώ, romanized: Megistṓ, lit. 'the greatest') is, in some accounts, another form for Callisto,[1] the mother of Arcas by Zeus.[2] She was also called Themisto, daughter of Inachus.[3]
Family
Megisto was of royal blood due to her father being Ceteus, son of King Lycaon of Arcadia.[2]
Mythology
Like Callisto, Megisto suffered the fate of being transformed into a bear. Her father, Ceteus, is represented in the sky as the Kneeler as he seems to be kneeling on one knee, lamenting his daughter's fate and holding up outstretched hands to heaven, asking for the gods to restore her to him.[2]
Notes
- ^ Forbes Irving 1990, p. 203.
- ^ a b c Hyginus, De astronomia 2.1.6, and 2.6.2, with Araethus of Tegea as authority
- ^ Eustathius ad Homer, Iliad p. 300; Stephanus of Byzantium, s.v. Arcadia (Ἀρκαδία); Pseudo-Clement, Recognitions 10.21
References
- Forbes Irving, Paul M. C. (1990). Metamorphosis in Greek Myths. Clarendon Press. ISBN 0-19-814730-9.
- Smith, William. (1870). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. London: Taylor, Walton, and Maberly.