Callisto was one of the followers of Diana (Artemis) but when she fell pregnant after an encounter with a god (no prizes for guessing who this was), she was expelled from the group. Virginity was highly prized by Diana and even though some accounts suggest Zeus (Jupiter) appeared to Callisto in the form of Diana, the pregnancy gave lie to all appearances. Things get worse for Callisto though. When Hera (Juno) discovered what her husband had been up to she took her feelings out on Callisto and transformed her into a bear.
This stunning mosaic comes from Villelaure (south-east France). The central scene is thought to depict Diana and Callisto together. This central panel is surrounded by a substantial border showing hunting scenes. This border is then surrounded by a series of geometric borders including knot patterns. This piece is held by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Phil Berg Collection (M.71.73.99).