Transformation occurs in several places in this text, and is most often performed or facilitated by women, who are usually already presumed to be "magical" in some way (like having a preexisting reputation for being a witch), with the exception of Zeus, in the case of Psyche, and the transformation of Lionheart, done by the thieves. The latter, however, isn't a magical transformation (Lionheart doesn't become a bear), and it's unclear whether or not the text considers Psyche becoming immortal as an act of magic.
Instances of transformation:
- (the big one): Apuleius becoming an ass -- pg. 62
- facilitated by a woman (Photus) and inspired by a similar transformation done by witch (Pamphile)
- also, Apuleius becoming human again -- pg. 241
- ate roses from a flower crown held by a priest, guided by Isis
- Pamphile turns into an owl -- pg. 60-61
- uses an ointment on her body
- Pamphile is a (somewhat?) known witch!
- the man paid to watch the corpse loses his nose & ears -- pg. 44-45
- technically, the transformation happens a couple of pages before, but this is when it occurs physically
- Lionheart becomes (?) a bear -- pg. 77
- this is one of few instances of men performing a transformation -- in this case, Lionheart is sewed into a bear hide and pretends to be a bear until he is killed by dogs
- in this case, it doesn't seem like Lionheart has actually physically become a bear, but is instead wearing a costume
- the animation of the wineskins -- pg. 53
- magic performed by Pamphile, with Photus performing as her assistant, transforming the wineskins from inanimate to animate
- references to a witch turning men into a beaver, a frog, and a ram -- pg. 9
- this transformation is used as a punishment
- again, done by a woman
- reference to witches as shapeshifters -- pg. 38
- Psyche dies from using the substance inside the bottle she recieved from Proserpina -- pg. 126
- arguably a transformation, but magical in nature and again facilitated by a woman
- Psyche is made immortal by drinking from a goblet of ambrosia -- pg. 128
- interestingly, this is given to her by Jupiter (with Mercury's assistance), and seems to be the only instance of successful transformation by men