The painting addresses a subject from the final book of Ovid’s “Metamorphoses”, in which Pythagoras delivers an extensive speech on the nature of existence, asserting the necessity of renouncing meat and formulating one of the earliest philosophical justifications of vegetarianism in ancient Europe. In his words, the world appears as a space of eternal transformation, where life does’t vanish but only changes its forms. It’s remarkable, that such ideas were present not only in Eastern philosophical traditions, but also within ancient European thought. This subject had earlier been anticipated around 1628–30 by Peter Paul Rubens, who worked in collaboration with Frans Snyders, the latter enriching the composition with an abundance of foodstuffs. In dialogue with this historical precedent, I strive through image and form to reinterpret the ancient heritage and reveal its resonance with our contemporary quests. Thus, this work raises questions that extend beyond the specific narrative: What does it mean to be part of a world in which nothing disappears, but only changes form? Can we rethink our relation to the living in light of the idea of continuity and interconnectedness of all existence? In the words of Pythagoras, I hear the voice of wisdom that across centuries reminds us: the human being is not a ruler, but a participant in the great cycle, where everything is connected.