batch.motif.roman-aeneid-mackail-gutenberg-l7534-l7584
---
record_id: batch.motif.roman-aeneid-mackail-gutenberg-l7534-l7584
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
passage_locator:
label: BOOK TENTH / THE BATTLE ON THE BEACH / BOOK ELEVENTH / THE COUNCIL OF THE
LATINS, AND THE LIFE AND DEATH OF CAMILLA; lines 7534-7584
start: '7534'
end: '7584'
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: 'Diana tells Opis the story of Camilla’s infancy: Metabus fled with the
child, dedicated her to Diana, tied her to a spear to cast her safely across the
flooded Amasenus, raised her in wild places, trained her in weapons, and Camilla
remained devoted to Diana and virginity. Diana then sends Opis to the Latin battlefield
with an avenging shaft and promises to protect Camilla’s body and armour after
death.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Latona’s daughter addresses Opis in the heavenly dwellings.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Camilla is said to be going to fierce war while wearing Diana’s arms.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Metabus fled Privernum with his infant daughter after being driven from his
kingdom.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: A swollen, foaming Amasenus river blocked Metabus during his flight.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Metabus tied the infant Camilla, wrapped in cork-tree bark, to an oak spear
and dedicated her to Diana before casting the spear across the river.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: Metabus crossed the river and retrieved the spear and child from the opposite
bank.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: Metabus lived outside cities and raised Camilla among lonely pastoral hills
and underwood.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: Camilla was fed with milk from a wild brood-mare.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: As soon as Camilla could stand, Metabus equipped her with a javelin, quiver,
and bow.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: Camilla wore tiger spoils instead of ornamental or conventional female clothing.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: As a child Camilla practiced with darts and sling and struck birds.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:12
text: Camilla rejected marriage offers and remained devoted to Diana, her weapons,
and maidenhood.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: obs:13
text: Diana sends Opis to the Latin borders with an avenging shaft for whoever wounds
Camilla.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: obs:14
text: Diana says she will bear Camilla’s body and armour in a cloud to burial in
her native land.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
- id: obs:15
text: Opis descends from heaven through the air, surrounded by a dark whirlwind.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:15
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Latona’s daughter / Diana / Trivia
description: Goddess who speaks from the heavenly dwellings, recalls Camilla’s dedication
and upbringing, sends Opis, and promises vengeance and burial for Camilla.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:13
- ev:14
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Opis
description: A fleet maiden of Diana’s sacred band who is addressed by Diana and
sent down from heaven to the Latin borders.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:13
- ev:15
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Camilla
description: Infant daughter of Metabus, dedicated to Diana, cast across a river
on a spear, raised in wild places, trained in weapons, and devoted to Diana and
maidenhood.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:12
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Metabus
description: Exiled father and warrior who flees with infant Camilla, dedicates
her to Diana, casts her across the river on a spear, retrieves her, and raises
her in the wilderness.
role_refs:
- role:7
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Casmilla
description: Camilla’s mother, whose name is adapted by Metabus when naming the
child.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Trojans or Italians
description: Potential battlefield assailants whom Diana says will pay with blood
if they wound Camilla’s sacred body.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
roles:
- id: role:1
label: divine speaker
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Diana addresses Opis from the heavenly dwellings and narrates Camilla’s past.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: divine patron and avenger
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Diana accepts Camilla as devoted to her, sends an avenging shaft, and promises
burial care.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:13
- ev:14
- id: role:3
label: divine messenger and agent of vengeance
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Opis is ordered to go to the battlefield with an avenging shaft and then
descends from heaven.
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- ev:15
- id: role:4
label: dedicated child
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Metabus devotes infant Camilla to Diana’s service and entrusts her to the
air on a weapon.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: wild-raised warrior maiden
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Camilla is raised in wild settings, fed by a wild mare, armed from infancy,
and trained in hunting weapons.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:11
- id: role:6
label: virgin devotee of Diana
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: She is content with Diana alone and preserves her love of darts and maidenhood.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: role:7
label: exiled father
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Metabus flees his lost kingdom with his infant daughter.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:8
label: protective dedicator
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Metabus ties Camilla to the spear, dedicates her to Diana, casts her across
the river, and later raises her.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:9
- id: role:9
label: named mother
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The passage says Camilla was named with a slight change from her mother Casmilla’s
name.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:10
label: potential violator of sacred body
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Diana names Trojan or Italian assailants as those who will pay if they wound
Camilla’s sacred body.
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: flooded river crossing
literal_form: swollen Amasenus river
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: sym:2
label: spear as vehicle of dedication and rescue
literal_form: oak spear carrying infant Camilla
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: wild milk nurture
literal_form: milk from a wild brood-mare
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- milk
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:4
label: woodland wilderness upbringing
literal_form: lonely woodland, pastoral hills, underwood, tangled coverts
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
- id: sym:5
label: weapons of maidenhood
literal_form: javelin, quiver, bow, darts, sling, avenging shaft
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:11
- ev:13
- id: sym:6
label: tiger spoils garment
literal_form: tiger’s spoils hanging down Camilla’s back
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:7
label: sheltering cloud
literal_form: cloud used by Diana to carry Camilla’s body and armour
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
- id: sym:8
label: dark whirlwind descent
literal_form: dark whirlwind around Opis as she descends
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:15
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Diana addresses Opis in heaven
summary: Diana speaks sadly to Opis about Camilla’s love for her and her impending
involvement in war.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Metabus flees with infant Camilla
summary: Metabus leaves Privernum with his infant daughter during exile and reaches
a flooded river while enemies close in.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Camilla dedicated and cast across the river
summary: Metabus binds the infant to an oak spear, dedicates her to Diana, casts
the spear over the river, then crosses and retrieves spear and child.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: Camilla’s wild upbringing and martial childhood
summary: Metabus raises Camilla away from cities in wild hills and coverts, feeds
her with wild mare’s milk, arms her young, and she practices hunting weapons.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: scene:5
label: Camilla’s devotion to Diana and virginity
summary: Camilla remains unmarried despite offers and is described as content with
Diana, her darts, and maidenhood.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: scene:6
label: Opis sent as avenger
summary: Diana sends Opis to the Latin battlefield with an avenging shaft and promises
to carry Camilla’s body and armour to burial in a cloud.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- ev:14
- ev:15
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: infant dedicated to a deity in crisis
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_parent_child
- sacred_exchange
basis: During flight, Metabus devotes his infant daughter to Diana’s service and
asks the goddess to accept her while entrusting her to the air.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents dedication and divine patronage, but Diana is not
Camilla’s biological parent.
- id: motif:2
label: dangerous water crossing with exposed infant
taxonomy_refs:
- water
basis: A flooded river blocks the fleeing father, who sends the infant across by
tying her to a spear and casting it over the waters.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: This is a localized rescue episode rather than a full flood-renewal narrative.
- id: motif:3
label: wild-raised heroic child
taxonomy_refs:
- miraculous_child
- initiation
basis: Camilla is raised outside cities in the wilderness, nourished by a wild mare,
given weapons as a small child, and trained in hunting skills.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:11
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not describe a miraculous birth; the heroic formation
is through upbringing and dedication.
- id: motif:4
label: virgin huntress-warrior devoted to goddess
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_beloved
basis: Camilla remains content with Diana alone, preserves maidenhood, and is especially
dear to the goddess.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:12
confidence: high
cautions: The taxonomy reference is approximate; the passage emphasizes divine affection
and chastity rather than erotic beloved status.
- id: motif:5
label: divine vengeance for wounding a sacred devotee
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Diana orders Opis to punish with blood whoever wounds Camilla’s sacred body.
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
confidence: high
cautions: The passage anticipates vengeance but does not narrate its fulfillment
in this excerpt.
- id: motif:6
label: divine protection of warrior’s corpse and arms
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Diana promises to bear Camilla’s body and armour unspoiled in a sheltering
cloud to burial in her native land.
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
confidence: high
cautions: No available taxonomy reference directly matches this funerary protection
motif.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 7534-7542
quote_or_summary: In the heavenly dwellings, Diana addresses Opis and says Camilla,
dear to her, moves to war and wears her arms.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 7542-7548
quote_or_summary: Metabus, driven from Privernum, flees with his infant daughter
and names her Camilla after her mother Casmilla with a small change.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 7548-7553
quote_or_summary: Metabus reaches lonely woodland while enemies surround him, and
the rain-swollen Amasenus foams with overflowing banks.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 7553-7558
quote_or_summary: Fearing to swim with the infant, Metabus ties Camilla, wrapped
in cork-tree bark, to a hard oak spear and balances her on it.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: quote
locator: 7558-7565
quote_or_summary: "“a father devotes this babe to thy service”; Metabus asks the
woodland maiden daughter of Latona to accept Camilla as her own and entrusts her
to the air."
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; short quotation for evidence.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 7565-7570
quote_or_summary: Metabus throws the spear; Camilla crosses over the roaring river
on the whistling weapon, and he plunges in and retrieves spear and girl from the
turf.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 7570-7574
quote_or_summary: No city receives Metabus; he lives on lonely pastoral hills and
raises Camilla in underwood and tangled coverts.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: quote
locator: 7574-7576
quote_or_summary: Camilla is nursed “on the milk of a wild brood-mare’s teats.”
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; short quotation for evidence.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 7576-7578
quote_or_summary: When Camilla can stand, Metabus arms her hands with a javelin
and hangs a quiver and bow from her shoulders.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: 7578-7580
quote_or_summary: Camilla wears tiger spoils down her back instead of gold hair
ornaments or a long gown.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: 7580-7582
quote_or_summary: As a child Camilla throws darts, whirls a sling, and strikes down
a crane or swan.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: 7582-7586
quote_or_summary: Many mothers hope for Camilla as a bride for their sons, but she
remains content with Diana alone and preserves her darts and maidenhood.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:13
type: summary
locator: 7586-7594
quote_or_summary: Because doom is upon Camilla, Diana tells Opis to go to the Latin
borders and take an avenging shaft from the quiver; whoever wounds Camilla, Trojan
or Italian, will pay with blood.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:14
type: summary
locator: 7594-7597
quote_or_summary: Diana says she will carry Camilla’s body and armour unspoiled
in a sheltering cloud to the tomb in her native land.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:15
type: summary
locator: 7597-7599
quote_or_summary: Opis speeds down through the airy sky, surrounded by a dark whirlwind
on her echoing path.
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: high
notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied passage. Motif taxonomy matches
are cautious where available taxonomy does not precisely name the episode type.
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: |-
Line references follow the provided locator range, though the embedded bracketed edition markers in the passage do not correspond exactly to the supplied markdown line numbers.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:roman-aeneid-mackail-gutenberg__l7534-l7584
passage_sha256=66cdc69a6e475b4e13d88b779957e0ed9a8504c8a38639e0df9bdbb5c740e360