In the poem Dante's Inferno, he says: And when he saw us, he bit into himself, Like someone whom wrath tears up from inside. My clever guide cried out to him, "Perhaps You believe that this is the Duke of Athens Who in the upper world contrived your death? "Go off, you beast! this man does not approach Instructed by your sister but comes here In order to observe your punishments." Just as the bull breaks loose right at that moment When he has been dealt the fatal blow And cannot run but jumps this way and that, So I saw the Minotaur react.” The detail of the Minotaur biting himself is not included in the painting as you can see in the following picture.