Lycaon Changed into a Wolf

Jupiter sits at a dining table, gesturing in judgment toward Lycaon, whose head and limbs are morphing into a wolf as he flees. In the background, flames consume the king's palace, while an attendant continues to serve wine at the central table. Jupiter's eagle sits beneath his seat, and a partially eaten carcass remains on a platter.

Based on Ovid's Metamorphoses, this scene was frequently interpreted by Renaissance Neoplatonists as an allegory for the 'animalization' of the soul. It represents the philosophical idea that when humans abandon reason and hospitality for violence, their external form changes to reflect their internal bestiality.