batch.motif.roman-aeneid-mackail-gutenberg-l2945-l2986
---
record_id: batch.motif.roman-aeneid-mackail-gutenberg-l2945-l2986
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
passage_locator:
label: BOOK FOURTH / THE LOVE OF DIDO, AND HER END / BOOK FIFTH / THE GAMES OF THE
FLEET; lines 2945-2986
start: '2945'
end: '2986'
translation: The Aeneid of Virgil
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: During a ship race, Cloanthus vows a bull, entrails, and wine to the sea
gods if aided. Marine deities hear him, and Portunus pushes his ship to victory.
Aeneas awards prizes to the crews and captains, including a purple-and-gold scarf
depicting a youth from Ida seized by Jove's eagle, a captured corslet, cauldrons,
and bowls. Sergestus arrives late in a damaged ship, compared to a wounded serpent,
and receives a slave woman, Pholoë the Cretan, with twin boys at her breast.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Cloanthus stretches his hands over the sea, prays to sea gods, and vows offerings
of a snow-white bull, entrails cast into salt water, and wine.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Panopea, the Nereids, and Portunus hear Cloanthus beneath the flood, and Portunus
pushes his ship forward.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Cloanthus' ship reaches the harbour, and Aeneas declares him the conqueror.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Aeneas crowns Cloanthus with green bay and gives prizes to the crews and captains.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The winner receives a gold-wrought scarf bordered in purple and decorated
with an image of a boy on Ida seized by Jove's armour-bearer.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: The second-place captain receives a heavy gold-hooked corslet taken from Demoleos
near Troy and the Simoïs.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: The third prize consists of twin brass cauldrons and silver bowls with tracery.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Sergestus arrives late with a damaged ship, missing oars and rowing weakly,
and is jeered at and unhonoured before Aeneas gives him the promised reward.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: The damaged ship is compared to a serpent left half-dead and mangled on a
highway, still lifting its blazing eyes and hissing throat while constrained by
its wound.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Sergestus receives Pholoë the Cretan, a slave woman skilled in Minerva's labours,
with twin boys at her breast.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Cloanthus
description: Contestant in the ship race who prays to the sea gods and is declared
conqueror.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Sea gods addressed by Cloanthus
description: Divine powers sovereign on the sea, addressed in Cloanthus' vow.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Panopea and Phorcus' choir of Nereids
description: Marine female divinities who hear Cloanthus beneath the flood.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Portunus
description: Sea or harbour deity who pushes Cloanthus' ship onward with his hand.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Aeneas, seed of Anchises
description: Leader who declares the victor and distributes prizes after the race.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Kingly boy on Ida
description: Figure woven on the winner's scarf, shown hunting stags on leafy Ida
and being seized by Jove's armour-bearer.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Jove's armour-bearer
description: Bird-like bearer of Jove who swoops down and carries off the boy from
Ida in its talons.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Aged guardians and hounds
description: Figures in the woven image who stretch their hands upward while hounds
bark into the air.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Demoleos
description: Former owner of the heavy corslet taken by Aeneas near Troy; described
as chasing scattered Trojans while wearing it.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Sergestus
description: Contestant who brings in a damaged ship late and receives a promised
reward.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Pholoë the Cretan
description: Slave woman given to Sergestus, described as not unskilled in Minerva's
labours and nursing twin boys.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Twin boys
description: Two boys at Pholoë's breast.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
roles:
- id: role:1
label: vow-making supplicant
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Cloanthus prays to sea gods and promises offerings if aided.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: race victor
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Aeneas declares Cloanthus conqueror after his ship reaches harbour.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:3
label: marine divine hearer
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
basis: Sea powers are addressed, and marine deities hear the prayer beneath the
flood.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: divine helper
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Portunus physically pushes Cloanthus' ship onward.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: judge and prize-giver
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Aeneas declares the victor, crowns him, and gives prizes.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: depicted seized youth
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The woven scarf shows the boy taken from Ida in the talons of Jove's armour-bearer.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:7
label: depicted divine abductor
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Jove's armour-bearer swoops and carries off the boy in its talons.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:8
label: depicted helpless witnesses
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The guardians stretch their hands upward in vain while hounds bark.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:9
label: defeated former armour-holder
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The corslet prize was stripped from Demoleos by Aeneas under Troy.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:10
label: delayed damaged contestant
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Sergestus arrives with lost oars and a damaged ship after being torn from
a rock.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:11
label: human prize or captive slave woman
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: Pholoë is explicitly given to Sergestus as a reward and called a slave woman.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:12
label: nursing twins
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: The passage identifies twin boys at Pholoë's breast.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: sea as divine domain
literal_form: sea, flood, salt water, harbour
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: vowed sacrificial bull
literal_form: snow-white bull promised to sea gods
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: wine libation
literal_form: liquid wine promised as part of Cloanthus' vow
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:4
label: victor's bay crown
literal_form: green bay placed on Cloanthus' brows
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: decorated purple-and-gold scarf
literal_form: gold-wrought scarf with double border of Meliboean purple
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:6
label: seized youth image
literal_form: woven image of a boy from Ida carried off in talons
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:7
label: wounded serpent simile
literal_form: serpent half-dead on a highway, coiling and hissing after injury
associated_figures:
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:8
label: twin boys
literal_form: twin boys at Pholoë's breast
associated_figures:
- fig:11
- fig:12
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Cloanthus' vow at sea
summary: Cloanthus stretches his hands over the sea and vows sacrificial offerings
to the sea gods while racing.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Marine divine assistance and victory
summary: Panopea, the Nereids, and Portunus hear the vow; Portunus pushes Cloanthus'
ship, which reaches harbour and is declared victorious by Aeneas.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Distribution of race prizes
summary: Aeneas awards gifts to crews and captains, including animals, wine, silver,
a decorated scarf, a captured corslet, cauldrons, and bowls.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Sergestus' damaged return
summary: Sergestus brings his damaged ship into harbour late; the ship's motion
is likened to a wounded serpent, but Aeneas gives the promised reward because
ship and crew are safe.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:12
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: vow and sacrificial exchange for divine aid
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
- sacrifice
basis: Cloanthus promises a bull, entrails, and wine to the sea gods; marine deities
hear him and Portunus pushes the ship to victory.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents the promise and divine assistance, but it does not
narrate fulfillment of the sacrifice within this excerpt.
- id: motif:2
label: divine intervention in contest victory
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Portunus directly assists Cloanthus' ship during the race before Aeneas declares
him conqueror.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy family precisely names athletic or contest intervention.
- id: motif:3
label: abduction of a beautiful youth by a divine bird
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_beloved
- stolen_beloved
basis: The prize scarf depicts a kingly boy on Ida seized in the talons of Jove's
swooping armour-bearer while guardians reach upward in vain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: This is an embedded image on a prize, not an enacted event in the race
narrative; the passage does not name the youth.
- id: motif:4
label: wounded serpent as image of damaged survival
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
basis: Sergestus' battered ship is explicitly compared to a half-dead, mangled serpent
that still coils, lifts its head, and hisses.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The serpent appears as a simile, not as a literal animal actor in the
narrative.
- id: motif:5
label: survival of damaged vessel and crew
taxonomy_refs:
- ark_vessel
basis: Aeneas is glad that Sergestus' ship is saved and the crew brought back after
it had been stuck on a rock and lost oars.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: low
cautions: Although a vessel and saved crew are present, the passage is a race episode
rather than a flood, ark, or cosmic survival narrative.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 2945-2953
quote_or_summary: Cloanthus stretches both hands over the sea, calls on the gods
sovereign over the waters, and vows a snow-white bull, entrails cast into the
salt flood, and wine.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 2953-2957
quote_or_summary: Panopea, Phorcus' Nereids, and Portunus hear beneath the flood;
Portunus pushes Cloanthus on, and the ship speeds into harbour.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 2957-2961
quote_or_summary: Aeneas summons the people, declares Cloanthus conqueror, crowns
him with green bay, and gives gifts to each crew.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 2961-2970
quote_or_summary: The winner receives a gold-wrought purple-bordered scarf depicting
a boy on leafy Ida hunting stags, seized by Jove's swooping armour-bearer while
guardians and hounds react below.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 2970-2978
quote_or_summary: The second-place prize is a heavy triple-woven corslet with gold
hooks taken from Demoleos near Troy; the third prize is twin brass cauldrons and
silver bowls.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 2978-2984
quote_or_summary: Sergestus arrives late in a ship torn from a rock and missing
oars; the ship is likened to a half-dead wounded serpent that still coils, hisses,
and lifts its head.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 2984-2986
quote_or_summary: 'Aeneas is glad that Sergestus'' ship and crew are safe and gives
him the promised reward: Pholoë the Cretan, a slave woman skilled in Minerva''s
labours, with twin boys at her breast.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal event extraction is straightforward. Motif labels are limited to
the supplied passage and available taxonomy; the embedded woven image and serpent
simile require caution because they are not primary plot actions.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
No comparison claims were added because the passage itself does not explicitly compare the episode to an external tradition or corpus.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:roman-aeneid-mackail-gutenberg__l2945-l2986
passage_sha256=b172e15b6afb4f684dcff40d1c8c085ceed782aa433310c4e586820957bb25d4