The two bears - clock and compass of the sky
One story has it that Zeus's jealous wife Hera wanted more revenge on Kallisto and Arktos. She asked her brother, the sea-god Poseidon*, never to let them rest. So Poseidon forced Kallisto (the Great Bear) and her son Arktos (the Little Bear) to circle the North polar point forever, never setting below the horizon.
If so, Hera accidentally did a great favour to farmers and travellers throughout the ages: the two circling bears act as clock and compass, giving both time and direction.
*(see the Story of Perseus and Andromeda)
What's the time?
You can use the positions of the bears in the sky to tell the time. One device to help you do this is called a nocturnal. This has a time scale and pointers to line up with the stars (find out more here).
Where am I?
The Pole Star in the Little Bear constellation can be used to find north and also to work out your latitude (north-south position on the Earth). See the constellation of Ursa Minor (Little Bear) to find out more.
Great Bear | Little Bear | The two bears