A curious traveler named Lucius experiments with magic and is accidentally transformed into a donkey, enduring a series of comic and violent misadventures among criminals, servants, and religious followers. The narrative contains many framed tales, most notably the account of Cupid and Psyche. After long suffering and wandering, he attains restoration through initiation into a goddess's cult. The work blends satire, erotic episodes, folklore, and philosophical reflection to examine metamorphosis, human folly, and spiritual transformation.