Jupiter
According to Roman mythology, Jupiter was the most powerful god. His
equal in Greek Mythology is Zeus. Jupiter was married to Juno (Hera in
Greek mythology), and they had a daughter named Hebe. Jupiter
controlled the weather, and was usually represented with a lightening
bolt in his hand. Since the Romans knew Jupiter was an all-powerful
god, they believed he knew the past, present, and future, and that he
would send signs to the people of Rome. It is also believed that
Jupiter rides a white chariot pulled by four white horses.
Io
In Greek mythology, Io was one of the beautiful daughters of the
river god Inachus. Juno had caught Jupiter and Io together by the
river. Io had sensed Juno coming, so she changed into the form of a
calf. Juno was suspicious, and asked Jupiter if the calf could be given
to her as a gift. Jupiter didn't want Juno to find out who the calf
really was, so he agreed. Juno had Io watched by Argus, who had a
hundred eyes in his head. Io watched by his for a long time, but
eventually was able to break free with a little help from Jupiter's
friend Mercury.
Ganymede
Ganymede was once a handsome young boy who was spotted by Jupiter.
Jupiter recognised his beauty, and thought it best to bring Ganymede up
to the heavens with him to serve as a cupbarer. Zeus transformed into
an eagle and carried Ganymede up with him. Ganymede is also known as a
a
servant of the gods.
Callisto
In Greek mythology, Callisto was an attendent of Zeus'(Jupiter)
daughter, Artemis. She had a son with Zeus, which was named Arcas. The
story goes that Hera(Juno) was jealous of Callisto, and changed her
into a bear. Arcas was unaware of this, and went out hunting. He found
his mother in bear form, but didn't know it was her, when he tried to
kill her, Zeus saw what Hera had done, and put both Callisto and Arcas
into the heavens as Ursa Major and Arcturus.
Europa
In Greek mythology, Europa was the beautiful daughter of of the king
of Phoenicia. Zeus had spotted her one day and fell for her beauty. He
turned into a white bull and approached her. She eventually trusted the
bull enough to get on his back, but once she did, Zeus flew them to an
island. On the island, Europa gave birth to Zeus' three sons, and Zeus
gave Europa three gifts. Then he set a bull in the stars, as the
constellation Taurus.
