batch.motif.roman-aeneid-mackail-gutenberg-l2988-l3044
---
record_id: batch.motif.roman-aeneid-mackail-gutenberg-l2988-l3044
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 2988-3044
start: '2988'
end: '3044'
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: Aeneas moves the gathered Trojans and Sicilians to a wooded valley amphitheatre
and announces prizes for a foot-race. Nisus leads, followed by Salius, Euryalus,
Helymus, and Diores. Near the finish Nisus slips in sacrificial blood and dung,
then deliberately throws himself in Salius' path so that Euryalus can win. Salius
protests; Aeneas preserves the prize order but grants Salius a lion-skin. Nisus
then asks for compensation for his own fall, and Aeneas gives him a shield taken
from Neptune's temple gates.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The contest takes place in a grassy plain surrounded by winding wooded hills,
with an amphitheatre in the valley.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Aeneas offers gifts to all runners and special prizes to the three foremost
runners.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The announced first prize is a caparisoned horse; the second is an Amazonian
quiver with arrows, gold belt, and gem clasp; the third is an Argolic helmet.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: At the start of the race, Nisus leads, followed by Salius, then Euryalus,
Helymus, and Diores.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Near the goal, Nisus slips on blood from slain steers that had wetted the
grass and falls among dung and sacrificial blood.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: After falling, Nisus throws himself in front of Salius, causing Salius to
fall, while Euryalus passes and wins first place.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Salius loudly protests before the assembly and the watching lords, demanding
restoration of the prize he says was taken from him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Aeneas keeps the order of prizes unchanged and gives Salius a Gaetulian lion-skin
with golden claws as compensation.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: Nisus displays his face and limbs fouled with wet dung and asks what recompense
he should receive; Aeneas laughs kindly and awards him a shield from Neptune's
Grecian temple.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Aeneas
description: Leader who presides over the contest, announces the prizes, judges
the dispute, and grants additional gifts.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Nisus
description: Runner famed for pure love of Euryalus; he leads the race, falls on
sacrificial blood and dung, impedes Salius, and later receives a shield.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Euryalus
description: Young and beautiful runner loved by Nisus; he benefits from Nisus'
action and wins first place.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Salius
description: Runner following Nisus; he is obstructed by Nisus, falls, protests,
and receives a lion-skin from Aeneas.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Helymus
description: Sicilian runner who comes after Euryalus and is placed behind him after
the incident.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Diores
description: Runner of Priam's royal line who follows close behind Helymus and supports
Euryalus in the dispute.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Trojans and Sicilians
description: Gathered participants and audience at the games.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
roles:
- id: role:1
label: contest host
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Aeneas leads the gathering to the race-ground and offers rewards and prizes.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: judge and compensating giver
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Aeneas decides not to alter the prize order and grants special rewards to
Salius and Nisus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:3
label: foot-race contestant
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
basis: These named figures take part in the running order of the race.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: friend who intervenes for beloved companion
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Nisus, after falling, remembers Euryalus and throws himself before Salius,
enabling Euryalus to win.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: beneficiary of intervention
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Euryalus wins first place through the action of Nisus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:6
label: protesting injured contestant
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Salius protests that his prize was defrauded after being made to fall.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:7
label: fallen but rewarded contestant
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Nisus falls and later receives a shield after requesting recompense.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: role:8
label: supporter in prize dispute
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Diores supports Euryalus in the dispute over whether the highest honours
should be restored to Salius.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:9
label: assembled spectators and participants
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Trojans and Sicilians gather from all sides, with many thousands present.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: wooded valley amphitheatre
literal_form: grassy plain, winding wooded hills, valley amphitheatre, mound
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: race prizes
literal_form: spearheads, silver-chased axe, olive head-binding, horse, quiver,
arrows, gold belt, gem clasp, Argolic helmet
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: sacrificial blood and dung
literal_form: blood of slain steers, wetted grass, ordure, blood of the sacrifice,
wet dung
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: sym:4
label: pale olive crown
literal_form: pale olive bound about the head of the three foremost runners
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- id: sym:5
label: Gaetulian lion-skin
literal_form: vast Gaetulian lion-skin with shaggy hair and golden claws
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:6
label: temple shield
literal_form: shield made by Didymaon, taken from the hallowed gates of Neptune's
Grecian temple
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Assembly at the race-ground
summary: Aeneas brings the people to a wooded valley amphitheatre, sits on a mound,
and summons contestants for a foot-race.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Announcement of prizes
summary: Aeneas promises gifts for every runner and sets out special rewards for
the first three finishers.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Race and fall near the goal
summary: Nisus leads the runners but slips on sacrificial blood and dung near the
finish; after falling, he obstructs Salius so Euryalus can win.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Dispute and compensatory awards
summary: Salius protests the result; Aeneas maintains the race order, gives Salius
a lion-skin, and then gives Nisus a shield after Nisus asks for recompense.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: athletic contest with ranked prizes
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: A public foot-race is organized with announced gifts for all participants
and special prizes for the first three finishers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: This is a passage-level narrative pattern rather than a supplied taxonomy
motif family.
- id: motif:2
label: friend secures victory by obstructing a rival
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Nisus falls, remembers Euryalus, throws himself in front of Salius, and thereby
enables Euryalus to win first place.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents the action literally; broader interpretation of loyalty,
fraud, or erotic friendship should be reviewed by a human.
- id: motif:3
label: disputed prize settled by compensatory gift
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: Salius protests the loss of his prize; Aeneas keeps the race result intact
but gives Salius a lion-skin, and later grants Nisus a shield as a special reward.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: 'The taxonomy reference is only approximate: the passage concerns prize-giving
and compensation, not an explicitly sacred exchange, though one compensatory object
is linked to Neptune''s temple.'
- id: motif:4
label: fall on remains of sacrifice alters contest outcome
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
basis: Nisus slips on the blood of slain steers and falls among ordure and sacrificial
blood, changing the outcome of the race.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The sacrificial material is literal setting and cause of action; the passage
does not explicitly frame the fall as divine judgment or omen.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 2988-3002
quote_or_summary: Aeneas leads the crowd to a grassy plain enclosed by wooded hills
and a valley amphitheatre; Trojans and Sicilians gather, with named runners including
Nisus, Euryalus, Diores, Salius, Helymus, and others.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; concise summary.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 3002-3017
quote_or_summary: 'Aeneas promises every contestant spearheads and a silver-chased
axe, then announces prizes for the first three: a horse, an Amazonian quiver with
arrows and ornate belt, and an Argolic helmet; the leading three will have pale
olive bound around their heads.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; concise summary.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 3017-3028
quote_or_summary: At the signal the runners leave the line; Nisus leads, Salius
follows at a distance, Euryalus is third, Helymus follows, and Diores presses
close behind.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; concise summary.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 3028-3037
quote_or_summary: Near the goal, Nisus slips on blood from slain steers that had
wetted the grass, falls among dung and sacrificial blood, then throws himself
before Salius so that Salius falls and Euryalus passes to win first place.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; concise summary.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 3037-3042
quote_or_summary: Salius protests loudly before the theatre and watching lords,
demanding restoration of the prize; Euryalus has favour, and Diores supports him
because restoring first honours to Salius would make Diores' own third prize void.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; concise summary.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 3042-3048
quote_or_summary: Aeneas says the rewards and prize order will remain, asks leave
to pity a friend's innocent mischance, and gives Salius a large Gaetulian lion-skin
with shaggy hair and golden claws.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; concise summary.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 3048-3054
quote_or_summary: Nisus asks what reward he should receive if pity is stirred for
the fallen, displays his face and limbs fouled with wet dung, and Aeneas kindly
laughs and orders a shield brought, made by Didymaon and taken from Neptune's
temple gates.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; concise summary.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: The episode is clear at the literal level. Motif labels are descriptive and
passage-level; supplied taxonomy references are sparse and only approximate where
used. No comparison claims were made because the passage itself does not support
an explicit cross-textual comparison.
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: |-
Used only the supplied passage and metadata. Line locators beyond the supplied range follow the passage's internal continuation as presented in the request; review against canonical markdown line numbering is recommended.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:roman-aeneid-mackail-gutenberg__l2988-l3044
passage_sha256=fcbebb805a554095d9df2fca5d65d82258df2eeb484b561b860076f6979faf52