batch.motif.greek-hesiod-homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-gutenberg-l2914-l3010
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-hesiod-homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-gutenberg-l2914-l3010
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
passage_locator:
label: THE PRECEPTS OF CHIRON / THE GREAT WORKS / THE IDAEAN DACTYLS / THE THEOGONY;
lines 2914-3010
start: '2914'
end: '3010'
translation: Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, and Homerica
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: The passage recounts the offspring of Iapetus and Clymene; punishments
imposed by Zeus on Menoetius, Atlas, and Prometheus; Prometheus’ deceptive division
of an ox at Mecone; Zeus’ withholding of fire; Prometheus’ theft of fire in a
hollow fennel stalk; and Zeus’ creation of an adorned maiden as a harmful price
for fire, from whom the passage derives the race of women.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Iapetus takes Clymene, daughter of Ocean, as wife, and she bears Atlas, Menoetius,
Prometheus, and Epimetheus.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Epimetheus is described as first taking from Zeus the woman whom Zeus had
formed.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Zeus strikes Menoetius with a thunderbolt and sends him down to Erebus because
of presumption and pride.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: Atlas is assigned to uphold the wide heaven with his head and arms at the
borders of the earth before the Hesperides.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:5
text: Prometheus is bound with cruel chains, pierced through the middle, and subjected
to an eagle that eats his liver, which grows back by night.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:6
text: Heracles kills the eagle and releases Prometheus, and this release is said
not to occur without Zeus’ will.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:7
text: At Mecone, Prometheus divides an ox into deceptive portions, setting edible
parts hidden under the hide and bones covered with shining fat for Zeus.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:8
text: Zeus perceives the trick, takes the portion of white fat and bones, becomes
angry, and the passage connects this with men burning white bones to the gods
on fragrant altars.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:9
text: Zeus withholds the power of fire from mortal men, and Prometheus steals the
far-seen gleam of fire in a hollow fennel stalk.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:10
text: Zeus makes an evil thing for men as the price of fire; the Limping God forms
from earth the likeness of a shy maiden, and Athene clothes and adorns her.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:11
text: The maiden is presented to gods and men, who are seized by wonder at what
the passage calls sheer guile.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:12
text: The passage says the race of women comes from the maiden and describes women
as a trouble for mortal men, using a comparison with drones in beehives.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Iapetus
description: Husband of Clymene and father of Atlas, Menoetius, Prometheus, and
Epimetheus.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Clymene
description: Daughter of Ocean, wife of Iapetus, and mother of four sons named in
the passage.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Atlas
description: Son of Iapetus and Clymene who upholds the wide heaven under constraint.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Menoetius
description: Son of Iapetus and Clymene, called outrageous and punished by Zeus.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Prometheus
description: Son of Iapetus and Clymene, described as clever and full of wiles;
he deceives at Mecone, steals fire, is punished, and is released.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:6
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Epimetheus
description: Son of Iapetus and Clymene, described as scatter-brained and as the
first to take from Zeus the woman formed by him.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Zeus
description: Far-seeing and cloud-driving god who punishes, assigns lots, perceives
Prometheus’ trick, withholds fire, and commands the creation of the maiden.
role_refs:
- role:9
- role:10
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Hesperides
description: Clear-voiced figures before whom Atlas stands at the borders of the
earth.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Long-winged eagle
description: Bird set on Prometheus that eats his immortal liver until Heracles
kills it.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Heracles
description: Valiant son of Alcmene who kills the eagle and releases Prometheus,
increasing his glory.
role_refs:
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Alcmene
description: Mother of Heracles, identified by epithet in the passage.
role_refs:
- role:15
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Gods and mortal men
description: Collective parties in the dispute at Mecone and witnesses who wonder
at the maiden.
role_refs:
- role:16
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: The Limping God
description: Divine craftsman who forms from earth the likeness of a shy maiden
and makes a gold crown.
role_refs:
- role:17
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:14
name_or_label: Athene
description: Bright-eyed goddess who girds, clothes, veils, garlands, and crowns
the maiden.
role_refs:
- role:18
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:15
name_or_label: Unnamed earth-formed maiden
description: A beautiful evil made as the price of fire, formed of earth and adorned
before being shown to gods and men.
role_refs:
- role:19
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:16
name_or_label: Women and female kind
description: The race said to come from the maiden and described as living among
mortal men to their trouble.
role_refs:
- role:20
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
roles:
- id: role:1
label: Titan father
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Iapetus is named as husband of Clymene and father of Atlas, Menoetius, Prometheus,
and Epimetheus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: Oceanid mother
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Clymene is called daughter of Ocean and bears the four sons to Iapetus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: Heaven-bearer under constraint
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Atlas upholds the wide heaven with head and arms as a lot assigned by Zeus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:4
label: Proud transgressor punished by thunderbolt
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Menoetius is struck by Zeus and sent to Erebus for presumption and pride.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:5
label: Cunning deceiver
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Prometheus is described as full of wiles and divides the ox in a deceptive
manner.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: role:6
label: Fire thief
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Prometheus steals the gleam of fire after Zeus withholds it from mortals.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:7
label: Bound sufferer released by hero
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Prometheus is chained and tormented by an eagle, then released by Heracles.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:8
label: Recipient of Zeus-formed woman
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Epimetheus is described as first taking from Zeus the woman formed by him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:9
label: Divine judge and punisher
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Zeus punishes Menoetius, assigns Atlas’ lot, binds Prometheus, and reacts
to the ox trick and fire theft.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:10
label: Withholder of fire
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: After the trick, Zeus refuses to give unwearying fire to mortal men.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:11
label: Planner of compensatory evil
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Zeus commands the making of a maiden as the price for fire.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:12
label: Boundary figures
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Atlas stands at the borders of the earth before the clear-voiced Hesperides.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:13
label: Tormenting bird
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The eagle eats Prometheus’ liver each day until Heracles kills it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:14
label: Heroic liberator
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Heracles kills the eagle and releases Prometheus from affliction.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:15
label: Mother of Heracles
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: Heracles is called the valiant son of Alcmene.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:16
label: Disputants and witnesses
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: Gods and mortal men dispute at Mecone and later wonder at the maiden.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: role:17
label: Divine craftsman
assigned_to:
- fig:13
basis: The Limping God forms the maiden from earth and makes the crown.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:18
label: Divine adornment giver
assigned_to:
- fig:14
basis: Athene clothes, veils, garlands, and crowns the maiden.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:19
label: Beautiful evil and price of fire
assigned_to:
- fig:15
basis: The maiden is called a beautiful evil and the price for fire, formed and
adorned under Zeus’ plan.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:20
label: Etiological female race
assigned_to:
- fig:16
basis: The passage derives the race of women and female kind from the maiden.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Fire
literal_form: The unwearying fire withheld by Zeus and stolen by Prometheus as a
far-seen gleam.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:7
- fig:12
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: Hollow fennel stalk
literal_form: The container in which Prometheus steals the far-seen gleam of fire.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: Thunderbolt
literal_form: The lurid thunderbolt with which Zeus strikes Menoetius.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:4
label: Heaven upheld at earth’s border
literal_form: The wide heaven held up by Atlas at the borders of the earth before
the Hesperides.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:8
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:5
label: Chains, eagle, and renewing liver
literal_form: Prometheus’ cruel chains, the long-winged eagle, and the immortal
liver that regrows by night.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: sym:6
label: Deceptive ox portions
literal_form: Flesh and inner parts hidden under hide and paunch, contrasted with
white bones covered in shining fat.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:7
- fig:12
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:7
label: White bones on fragrant altars
literal_form: The bones burned by human tribes to the deathless gods after Zeus
sees the trick.
associated_figures:
- fig:7
- fig:12
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:8
label: Earth-formed maiden
literal_form: A likeness of a shy maiden formed from earth as a beautiful evil and
price for fire.
associated_figures:
- fig:7
- fig:13
- fig:14
- fig:15
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: sym:9
label: Veil, garlands, and gold crown
literal_form: The maiden’s silvery raiment, broidered veil, herb-flower garlands,
and crown of gold with creatures of land and sea.
associated_figures:
- fig:13
- fig:14
- fig:15
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:10
label: Bees and drones in hives
literal_form: The simile of bees making white combs while drones stay in covered
skeps and consume others’ toil.
associated_figures:
- fig:16
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Genealogy of Iapetus and Clymene
summary: Clymene bears Atlas, Menoetius, Prometheus, and Epimetheus to Iapetus,
and Epimetheus is linked to the first taking of Zeus’ formed woman.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Zeus’ punishments of Menoetius, Atlas, and Prometheus
summary: Zeus sends Menoetius to Erebus, assigns Atlas to hold heaven, and binds
Prometheus for torment by an eagle.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:3
label: Heracles releases Prometheus
summary: Heracles kills the eagle and frees Prometheus, with the passage stating
that Zeus permits this for Heracles’ increased glory.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:7
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:4
label: Mecone ox division and origin of sacrificial bones
summary: Prometheus divides an ox deceptively during a dispute between gods and
mortals; Zeus perceives the trick and the passage links this to the burning of
white bones for the gods.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:7
- fig:12
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:5
label: Theft of fire
summary: After Zeus withholds fire from mortals, Prometheus steals it in a hollow
fennel stalk; Zeus becomes angry when he sees fire among men.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:7
- fig:12
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:6
label: Making and presentation of the maiden
summary: Zeus orders a harmful recompense for fire; the Limping God forms a maiden
from earth, Athene adorns her, and gods and mortals marvel when she is displayed.
figure_refs:
- fig:7
- fig:12
- fig:13
- fig:14
- fig:15
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:7
label: Consequences assigned to women and marriage
summary: The passage derives women from the maiden and presents a discourse on women,
wealth, marriage, old age, inheritance, and grief, including a bee-and-drone simile.
figure_refs:
- fig:15
- fig:16
symbol_refs:
- sym:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Theft of withheld divine fire
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_theft
basis: Zeus withholds fire from mortal men, and Prometheus secretly steals it in
a hollow fennel stalk.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents the act as theft and divine provocation; broader
culture-hero interpretation is not required for the literal extraction.
- id: motif:2
label: Trickster’s deceptive sacrificial division
taxonomy_refs:
- trickster_boundary
- sacrifice
basis: Prometheus arranges ox portions to deceive Zeus, and the passage explains
human burning of white bones to the gods from this event.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The taxonomy label 'trickster_boundary' is supported by Prometheus’ cunning
against Zeus, but the passage does not use the word trickster.
- id: motif:3
label: Divine punishment for presumption and deception
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Zeus punishes Menoetius, assigns Atlas’ burden, binds Prometheus, withholds
fire, and reacts punitively to the ox trick and fire theft.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The punishments differ in form and target; they are grouped only by Zeus’
punitive actions in the passage.
- id: motif:4
label: Beautiful harmful gift as price for stolen benefit
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
- divine_judgment
basis: The maiden is made as an evil for men and as the price for fire after Prometheus
steals it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage frames the maiden as recompense or price, but this is a punitive
exchange rather than a mutual bargain.
- id: motif:5
label: Hero releases bound sufferer from recurring torment
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Heracles kills the eagle and releases Prometheus from the affliction of daily
liver-eating.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: No supplied taxonomy reference precisely matches this release scene; it
is retained as an untaxonomized motif candidate.
- id: motif:6
label: Divine father honors heroic son
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_parent_child
basis: Zeus permits Prometheus’ release so that the glory of Heracles, called his
famous son, may be greater, and Zeus honors him despite anger.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The parent-child relation is explicit for Zeus and Heracles in the passage,
but it is secondary to the Prometheus punishment narrative.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage explicitly compares the female race’s effect on mortal men to
drones in hives that stay inside and consume the labor of bees.
claim_level: same_function
target: Drones in thatched hives consuming bees’ labor
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: This is an internal simile in the passage, not evidence for historical
contact or a cross-tradition borrowing claim.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 2914-2931; Theogony ll. 507-520
quote_or_summary: Iapetus and Clymene have Atlas, Menoetius, Prometheus, and Epimetheus;
Zeus punishes Menoetius, assigns Atlas to uphold heaven, and binds Prometheus
for eagle torment.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 2931-2941; Theogony ll. 520-534
quote_or_summary: Heracles kills the eagle and releases Prometheus; the passage
says this occurs with Zeus’ will and increases Heracles’ glory.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 2941-2965; Theogony ll. 535-560
quote_or_summary: At Mecone, Prometheus deceptively divides an ox; Zeus perceives
the trick, becomes angry, and the passage explains the burning of white bones
on altars.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 2966-2974; Theogony ll. 561-569
quote_or_summary: Zeus withholds unwearying fire from mortals, and Prometheus steals
its far-seen gleam in a hollow fennel stalk.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 2974-2988; Theogony ll. 570-584
quote_or_summary: The Limping God forms from earth the likeness of a shy maiden;
Athene clothes and adorns her with veil, garlands, and a gold crown worked with
creatures.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 2989-2994; Theogony ll. 585-589
quote_or_summary: The beautiful evil is brought out as the price for the blessing,
and gods and mortals marvel at what is called sheer guile.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 2995-3010; Theogony ll. 590-612
quote_or_summary: The passage says women come from the maiden and describes their
effect on mortal men, using a simile of drones consuming bees’ labor and discussing
marriage, old age, inheritance, and grief.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Literal extraction is strong because the passage is explicit. Motif classification
is medium where supplied taxonomy labels are broader than the immediate wording.
The comparison claim is limited to an explicit internal simile.
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 external names, identifications, or comparative traditions were added beyond the supplied passage and available taxonomy references.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-hesiod-homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-gutenberg__l2914-l3010
passage_sha256=2ea0eaf5256d51d1b33bb23eae485e7cd088fd0f60823f71c56728f6a9ff3dd8