The Big Dipper is part of the constellation Ursa Major also known as the Great Bear. Accoring to a Roman myth there once was a beautiful maiden named Callisto. She was travelling through the forest and laid down to rest. The god Jupiter saw her and was overcome by her beauty. His wife, June, became jealous. When Castillo gave birth to a son Juno assumed it was Jupiter's. Out of vengence she turned Callisto into a bear. Castillo's son Arcas grew up and became a hunter. While hunting in the forest Castillo saw him and in her excitiment rushed toward him. Thinking he was being attack he shot an arrow at her. Luckily Jupiter stopped the arrow before it killed Callisto. Jupiter, in an attempt to save Arcas and his mother from more trouble, turned Arca into a bear also. He then grabbed them both by the tail and threw them up into the heavens. Their tails became elongated by the strength of his throw. There they remain as Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.

Other Information

In North America the Big dipper, a named dervied from Africa where is was refered to as a drinking gourd, it is most commonly know as a guide for runaway slaves. Slaves would follow the drinking gourd to freedom in the north. Polaris, the north star, is found by following the edge of the cup upward. The north star acted as a guide for slaves and sailors throughout the centuries.