Calisto in ein Bären · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Calisto in ein Bären
Period: 1550-1600;
Geographic: Arcadia; Ancient Greece
Description: This image depicts Juno, the wife of Jupiter, pulling on the hair of the nymph Callisto. Juno is depicted with a crown to signify her status as a goddess as well as the wife of the king of the gods. Juno is angry with Callisto because Jupiter had raped her and then she gave birth to a son. This was an embarrassment to Juno, so she decided to punish her. Juno physically transformed her into a bear with her human consciousness remaining. Callisto, in the form of a bear, is illustrated on the right side of the image.
Image Creator: Virgil Solis (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:21052
Language: ger
Source Name: P. Ouidij Nasonis, deß Sinnreichen und hochverstendigen Poeten, Metamorphoses oder Verwandlung, mit schönen figuren gezieret, auch kurzen Argumenten und außlegungen erkläret, und in Teutsche Reymen gebracht, durch Johann Spreng von Augspurg [Publius Ovidius Naso, the Ingenious and Highly Understandable Poet, Metamorphoses or Transformations, Adorned with Beautiful Images, and also descriptions of Short Arguments and Explanations, Brought into German Rhymes by Johann Spreng of Augsburg]
Parent Collection: 1564 Frankfurt Spreng
Image: mta_21052_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Ovid's Metamorphoses
Subject: Jupiter; Transformation; Goddesses; Roman Mythology; Greek Mythology; Callisto; Juno; Gods