batch.motif.roman-aeneid-mackail-gutenberg-l8275-l8349
---
record_id: batch.motif.roman-aeneid-mackail-gutenberg-l8275-l8349
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
passage_locator:
label: BOOK ELEVENTH / THE COUNCIL OF THE LATINS, AND THE LIFE AND DEATH OF CAMILLA
/ BOOK TWELFTH / THE SLAYING OF TURNUS; lines 8275-8349
start: '8275'
end: '8349'
translation: The Aeneid of Virgil
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: Bring brands speedily, and reclaim the treaty in fire.
summary: The passage depicts Aeneas and Turnus causing widespread slaughter in battle.
Aeneas is inspired by his divine mother to turn from seeking Turnus toward an
attack on Latinus' city, threatening to burn it unless it yields. The Trojans
advance with fire and ladders, while the citizens are divided between opening
the gates and defending the walls.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The narrator invokes a god to unfold many woes, slaughters, and deaths of
captains, and asks whether nations destined for peace should clash in so great
a conflict.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Aeneas and Turnus alternately drive slaughter across the field, killing or
defeating multiple named warriors.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: obs:3
text: Turnus cuts off the heads of Amycus and Diores, hangs them on his chariot,
and carries them away dripping with blood.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: The fury of Aeneas and Turnus is compared to dispersed fires in a dry forest
and to foaming rivers rushing from high hills to the sea.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: Aeneas' mother inspires him to advance on the city walls and direct his columns
against the town.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: Aeneas sees the city still free from the fighting, summons his captains, mounts
a hillock, and addresses the gathered Teucrian army.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: Aeneas declares that Jupiter is with his side and threatens to raze Latinus'
city unless it yields to the conquerors.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: Aeneas orders brands to be brought and says the treaty should be reclaimed
in fire.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: The Teucrians form a wedge, advance to the walls, raise ladders, bring fire,
attack gates, kill guards, and throw weapons.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:10
text: Aeneas reproaches Latinus at the walls and calls the gods to witness that
the Italians have twice chosen warfare and broken a second treaty.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:11
text: 'The alarmed citizens disagree: some urge opening the town and gates to the
Dardanians, while others arm themselves to defend the walls.'
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:12
text: The citizens' disturbance is compared to bees in a recessed rock filled with
smoke by a shepherd.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Aeneas
description: Trojan hero who kills warriors, is inspired by his mother, summons
captains, threatens Latinus' city, and leads the attack on the walls.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Turnus
description: Rutulian leader who kills several opponents and carries severed heads
on his chariot.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Aeneas' mother
description: A beautiful divine mother of Aeneas who inspires him to advance on
the city walls.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Latinus
description: King associated with the royal seat of the city; Aeneas reproaches
him and identifies his city as the source of war.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Teucrian army / Dardanians
description: Aeneas' forces gather around him, form a wedge, and advance against
the city walls with ladders, fire, and weapons.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Latins / alarmed citizens
description: People inside the city who are dismayed and divided between surrendering
the gates and defending the walls.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:10
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Mnestheus, Sergestus, and Serestus
description: Captains summoned by Aeneas before the attack on the city.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Slain warriors and captains
description: Named combatants killed or defeated in the field, including Sucro,
Amycus, Diores, Talos, Tanaïs, Cethegus, Onites, Menoetes, Murranus, Hyllus, Cretheus,
Cupencus, and Aeolus.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Jupiter
description: Aeneas says Jupiter is with his side during his address to the army.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Gods as witnesses
description: Aeneas calls the gods to witness that he is forced into battle and
that treaties have been broken.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
roles:
- id: role:1
label: opposing battlefield champions
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:2
basis: The passage presents Aeneas and Turnus as the two principal warriors driving
slaughter across the field.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:2
label: divine inspirer and mother
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Aeneas' mother inspires him to advance on the city walls.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:3
label: besieging commander
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Aeneas summons captains, addresses the army, and orders an assault with fire
against the city.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:4
label: trophy-taking warrior
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Turnus hangs the severed heads of Amycus and Diores on his chariot.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: attacking force
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:5
basis: Aeneas and the Teucrians advance toward the walls with ladders, fire, and
weapons.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: role:6
label: king associated with threatened city
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Aeneas identifies the city as the royal seat of Latinus and reproaches Latinus
at the walls.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: role:7
label: divided defenders or potential surrenderers
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Some citizens urge opening the gates to the Dardanians, while others arm
to defend the walls.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:8
label: summoned captains
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Aeneas summons Mnestheus, Sergestus, and Serestus before speaking to the
gathered army.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:9
label: battlefield victims
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The passage lists many warriors killed or defeated by Aeneas and Turnus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:10
label: divine supporter named in speech
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Aeneas states that Jupiter is with his side.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:11
label: divine witnesses to treaty breach
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Aeneas takes the gods to witness that the Italians have again chosen warfare
and broken a treaty.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: fire and brands
literal_form: Brands, fire, smoking roofs, and smoke used in threats, assault, and
simile.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: sym:2
label: city walls and gates
literal_form: The walls and gates of Latinus' city, approached by Aeneas' army and
debated by the citizens.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: sym:3
label: broken treaty
literal_form: The treaty that Aeneas says the Italians have broken for a second
time, to be reclaimed in fire.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: sym:4
label: severed heads on chariot
literal_form: The severed heads of Amycus and Diores hung on Turnus' chariot.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: destructive natural forces
literal_form: Fires in dry forest and foaming rivers rushing from high hills to
the sea, used as comparisons for the warriors' violence.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:6
label: smoked bees in recessed rock
literal_form: Bees inside a recessed rock filled with smoke by a shepherd, used
as a comparison for the alarmed citizens.
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Mutual battlefield slaughter by Aeneas and Turnus
summary: Aeneas and Turnus move through the battlefield killing named warriors,
and their force is compared to fires and rivers.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:2
label: Aeneas turns from seeking Turnus to threatening the city
summary: Inspired by his mother, Aeneas notices the city unpunished, summons captains,
addresses his army, and threatens to burn the royal seat unless it yields.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:7
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:3
label: Assault on the walls and discord within the city
summary: The Teucrians attack the walls with ladders, fire, and weapons. Aeneas
calls the gods to witness the treaty breach, while citizens divide between surrender
and defense.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Divine parent incites the hero to action
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_parent_child
basis: Aeneas' mother inspires him to redirect his forces toward the city walls.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives only a brief statement of inspiration and does not narrate
a dialogue between parent and child.
- id: motif:2
label: Broken treaty leads to renewed violence
taxonomy_refs:
- covenant
basis: Aeneas says the Italians have chosen warfare again, broken a second treaty,
and that the treaty must be reclaimed in fire.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: The treaty itself is not described in this excerpt; only Aeneas' accusation
and command are present.
- id: motif:3
label: Threatened destruction of a city by fire
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Aeneas threatens to raze Latinus' city and lay its smoking roofs in the dust,
then orders brands and advances with fire to the walls.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: This is a city-destruction pattern, not necessarily the broader cosmic
motif of world-destroying fire.
- id: motif:4
label: Gods invoked as witnesses to just war
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Aeneas says Jupiter is with his side and takes the gods to witness that he
is forced into battle because the Italians broke the treaty.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage reports Aeneas' claim; it does not independently narrate a
divine judgment scene.
- id: motif:5
label: Warriors likened to destructive elements
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Aeneas and Turnus are compared to fires spreading through dry woodland and
rivers rushing destructively from hills to the sea.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: This is an epic simile pattern rather than a discrete mythic episode.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 8275-8280
quote_or_summary: The narrator asks what god can unfold the many woes, slaughters,
and deaths of captains, and questions whether nations destined for peace should
clash in so vast a shock.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 8280-8288
quote_or_summary: Aeneas kills Sucro and later other named warriors, while the passage
states that Aeneas and Turnus drive slaughter over the field.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 8285-8298
quote_or_summary: Turnus brings down Amycus and Diores, hangs their severed heads
on his chariot, and other named deaths are listed for the two champions.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 8298-8306
quote_or_summary: The passage compares Aeneas and Turnus to fires kindled in a dry
forest and to foaming rivers rushing from high hills to the sea, then says their
wrath surges and they rush upon wounds.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 8323-8327
quote_or_summary: Aeneas' beautiful mother inspires him to advance on the city walls,
direct his columns against the town, and dismay the Latins with swift disaster.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 8327-8333
quote_or_summary: While seeking Turnus, Aeneas notices the city free from battle,
summons Mnestheus, Sergestus, and Serestus, mounts a hillock, and the Teucrian
army gathers around him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: quote
locator: lines 8333-8341
quote_or_summary: 'Aeneas says Jupiter is with them, threatens to raze Latinus''
city unless it yields, and commands: "Bring brands speedily, and reclaim the treaty
in fire."'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt quoted.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 8341-8345
quote_or_summary: The army forms a wedge, advances to the walls, runs up ladders,
brings fire, attacks gates, kills guards, and darkens the sky with weapons.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 8345-8348
quote_or_summary: Aeneas stretches his hand to the walls, reproaches Latinus, and
calls the gods to witness that he is forced into battle and that the Italians
have broken a second treaty.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 8348-8349 and following passage text
quote_or_summary: 'Discord rises among the citizens: some urge opening the gates
to the Dardanians, others arm to defend the walls; they are compared to bees in
a recessed rock disturbed by smoke.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/aeneid-mackail.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is strong for battle, treaty breach, fire assault, and
divine-parent inspiration. Motif assignments are conservative and limited to available
taxonomy where directly supported. No external comparison claims are made from
this passage alone.
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 provided passage and metadata. Taxonomy references are included only where the passage directly supports them.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:roman-aeneid-mackail-gutenberg__l8275-l8349
passage_sha256=35ec100634b3f9722b3ef138dbea06e5fefa70eed762b6a5105027840676eb0d