batch.motif.greek-hesiod-homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-gutenberg-l5651-l5739
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-hesiod-homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-gutenberg-l5651-l5739
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
passage_locator:
label: THE HOMERIC HYMNS / I. TO DIONYSUS 2501 / II. TO DEMETER / III. TO DELIAN
APOLLO; lines 5651-5739
start: '5651'
end: '5739'
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 hymn praises Apollo as a powerful archer honored in Zeus' house, recalls
Leto as mother of Apollo and Artemis, names Apollo's delight in mountains, rivers,
beaches, and harbors, and narrates Leto's search for a land willing to receive
Apollo's birth. Delos agrees only after Leto swears a divine oath that Apollo
will first establish his altar, precinct, temple, and oracle there. Leto then
suffers nine days and nights of labor while goddesses attend her, but Hera keeps
Eilithyia away through envy.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Apollo enters the house of Zeus carrying or associated with a bright bow and
archery gear, and the gods tremble and rise before him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Leto removes Apollo's bow, quiver, and archery from his shoulders, hangs them
on a golden peg, and leads him to a seat.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Zeus gives Apollo nectar in a golden cup and welcomes him as his dear son.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: Leto is said to have borne Apollo and Artemis, with Artemis in Ortygia and
Apollo in rocky Delos near Cynthus, a palm-tree, and the streams of Inopus.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Apollo's domain of song and delight is described as extending over mainland,
islands, mountain-peaks, headlands, rivers, beaches, and sea-havens.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Leto roams many named places while in travail, seeking a land willing to be
a dwelling for her son.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: The lands tremble and fear, and none dares receive Phoebus until Leto reaches
Delos.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Leto asks Delos to be Apollo's abode and to make him a rich temple, promising
that people will bring sacrifices there and that Delos will be fed from strangers
despite poor soil.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: Delos answers that it would joyfully receive Apollo but fears that he may
scorn the rocky island, overturn it into the sea, and go elsewhere.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Delos asks Leto to swear that Apollo will first build a glorious temple there
as an oracle for men.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: Leto swears by Earth, Heaven, and the water of Styx that Apollo will have
his fragrant altar and precinct on Delos and will honor Delos above all.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: After Leto's oath, Delos is glad at Apollo's birth.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:13
text: Leto suffers nine days and nine nights of birth pangs while many goddesses
are with her.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:14
text: Hera keeps Eilithyia away on Olympus through envy, because Leto is about to
bear a strong and faultless son.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Apollo / Phoebus / far-shooting lord
description: A divine son of Leto and Zeus, archer, future temple-holder and oracle
god, whose arrival makes the gods tremble.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Leto
description: Mother of Apollo and Artemis, daughter of Coeus, who seeks a place
for Apollo's birth and swears an oath to Delos.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Zeus
description: Father in whose house Apollo is honored; he gives Apollo nectar in
a golden cup and is named as cloud-gathering Zeus.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:8
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Artemis
description: Child of Leto, described as delighting in arrows and born in Ortygia.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Delos
description: Rocky island personified as speaking with Leto, fearing Apollo's power,
requesting an oath, and becoming glad at his birth.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Hera
description: White-armed goddess who remains in Zeus' halls and keeps Eilithyia
away through envy of Leto's impending son.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Eilithyia
description: Goddess of sore travail who has not heard of Leto's trouble because
Hera keeps her close on Olympus.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Attendant goddesses
description: Dione, Rhea, Ichnaea, Themis, Amphitrite, and other deathless goddesses
who are with Leto during her labor.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
roles:
- id: role:1
label: divine archer
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Apollo is associated with a bright bow, quiver, archery, and the epithet
far-shooting.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: divine child of Leto
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:4
basis: The passage states that Leto bore Apollo and Artemis.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: divine mother in travail
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Leto roams while in travail and later suffers nine days and nights of birth
pangs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: role:4
label: divine father and host
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Zeus welcomes Apollo as his dear son and gives him nectar in a golden cup.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:5
label: personified birthplace island
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Delos speaks with Leto, accepts Apollo's birth after an oath, and is glad
at his birth.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: role:6
label: oath-giver
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Leto swears the great oath of the gods by Earth, Heaven, and Styx.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:7
label: oath-recipient and temple site
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Delos requests an oath that Apollo's first temple and oracle will be there.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:8
label: oracle and temple deity
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The oath and Delos' request identify Apollo's future temple, altar, precinct,
and oracle on Delos.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:9
label: divine obstructer
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Hera keeps Eilithyia away through envy while Leto is in labor.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:10
label: birth-assisting goddess withheld
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Eilithyia is called goddess of sore travail and is absent because Hera keeps
her away.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:11
label: divine birth attendants
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Several goddesses are named as being with Leto during her labor.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: bow and quiver
literal_form: Apollo's bright bow, quiver, and archery gear
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: nectar in golden cup
literal_form: Nectar given by Zeus to Apollo in a golden cup
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: Delos as rocky island birthplace
literal_form: Rocky Delos, sea-girt and with hard rocky soil
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: sym:4
label: mountain or hill
literal_form: Cynthian hill, Mount Cynthus, mountain-peaks, and high headlands
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: palm-tree
literal_form: Palm-tree near which Leto rested by the streams of Inopus
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:6
label: water around and invoked by Delos
literal_form: Streams of Inopus, dark sea waves, ocean, and the water of Styx
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:7
label: temple, altar, precinct, and oracle
literal_form: Apollo's rich temple, fragrant altar, precinct, wooded groves, and
oracle for men
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:8
label: divine oath witnesses
literal_form: Earth, wide Heaven above, and dropping water of Styx
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:9
label: hecatombs and sacrifice smoke
literal_form: Hecatombs and incessant savour of rich sacrifice promised for Delos
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Apollo honored in Zeus' house
summary: Apollo enters Zeus' house as the gods tremble; Leto removes his archery
gear, seats him, and Zeus gives him nectar in a golden cup.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Leto's children and Apollo's Delian birth setting recalled
summary: The hymn praises Leto for bearing Apollo and Artemis and locates Apollo's
birth on rocky Delos near Cynthus, a palm-tree, and the streams of Inopus.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Apollo's wide sacred landscape
summary: Apollo is addressed as having song and delight over mainland, islands,
mountains, headlands, rivers, beaches, and harbors.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Leto seeks a land for Apollo
summary: Leto travels in labor among many places seeking a dwelling for Apollo,
but the lands fear receiving him until she reaches Delos.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Leto's offer to Delos
summary: Leto asks Delos to accept Apollo and promises that Apollo's temple will
bring gatherings, sacrifices, and sustenance from strangers.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:6
label: Delos requests an oath
summary: Delos fears Apollo may scorn and sink the island, but agrees if Leto swears
Apollo will first build a temple and oracle there.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:7
label: Leto swears by cosmic witnesses and Styx
summary: Leto swears by Earth, Heaven, and Styx that Apollo will have his altar
and precinct on Delos and will honor the island above all.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:8
label: Prolonged labor and withheld birth goddess
summary: After the oath, Delos is glad; Leto suffers nine days and nights of labor
with goddesses present, while Hera keeps Eilithyia away through envy.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: sacred birth of a god on a chosen island
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_birth
basis: The passage centers on Leto's travail, Delos' acceptance, and Apollo's impending
birth on Delos.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The actual moment of Apollo's birth is anticipated and framed, not fully
narrated within the provided passage.
- id: motif:2
label: divine mother seeking a birthplace
taxonomy_refs:
- mother_goddess
- divine_parent_child
basis: Leto, mother of Apollo and Artemis, wanders in travail seeking a land willing
to receive her son.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The passage describes Leto's maternal and birth-related actions, but does
not use the label mother goddess.
- id: motif:3
label: oath establishing sacred site
taxonomy_refs:
- covenant
- sacred_exchange
basis: Delos agrees to receive Apollo after Leto swears that Apollo's first temple,
altar, precinct, and oracle will be there, bringing honor and sacrifices to Delos.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The term covenant is a modern taxonomy label; the passage literally describes
an oath and promised honors.
- id: motif:4
label: divine obstruction of childbirth
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Hera keeps Eilithyia, goddess of travail, away from Leto through envy while
Leto suffers prolonged labor.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: No available taxonomy reference precisely names this obstruction pattern.
- id: motif:5
label: fearful land negotiates with powerful god's mother
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: Delos fears Apollo's future power and negotiates an oath in return for receiving
him and his temple.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: This is a passage-level pattern rather than a named motif in the supplied
taxonomy.
- id: motif:6
label: sacred geography of Apollo
taxonomy_refs:
- world_center
basis: The passage lists many regions, islands, mountains, rivers, beaches, and
harbors under Apollo's song and delight, while Delos is singled out as the honored
first precinct and oracle site.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: World-center terminology is interpretive; the passage specifically emphasizes
wide geographic scope and Delos' precedence, not an explicit cosmic center.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: Hymn III, To Delian Apollo, ll. 1-12
quote_or_summary: Apollo enters Zeus' house; the gods tremble and rise; Leto removes
his bow and quiver and seats him; Zeus gives him nectar in a golden cup as his
dear son.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: Hymn III, To Delian Apollo, ll. 13-18
quote_or_summary: Leto is praised for bearing Apollo and Artemis; Artemis is linked
with Ortygia, Apollo with rocky Delos near Cynthian hill, a palm-tree, and the
streams of Inopus.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: Hymn III, To Delian Apollo, ll. 19-29
quote_or_summary: Apollo's song and delight extend over mainland and islands, mountain-peaks,
headlands, rivers, beaches, and sea-havens; Leto bore him on sea-girt Delos.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: Hymn III, To Delian Apollo, ll. 30-50
quote_or_summary: Leto roams many named places while in travail, seeking a land
willing to make a dwelling for Apollo; the lands fear and refuse until she comes
to Delos.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: Hymn III, To Delian Apollo, ll. 51-61
quote_or_summary: Leto asks Delos to be Apollo's abode and make him a temple, promising
gathered worshippers, hecatombs, sacrifice smoke, and sustenance from strangers
despite Delos' poor soil.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: Hymn III, To Delian Apollo, ll. 62-82
quote_or_summary: Delos says it would receive Apollo but fears he will scorn the
rocky island and cast it into the sea; Delos asks Leto to swear that Apollo will
first build a temple and oracle there.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: Hymn III, To Delian Apollo, ll. 83-88
quote_or_summary: Leto swears the great oath of the gods by Earth, Heaven, and the
water of Styx that Apollo will have his fragrant altar and precinct on Delos and
honor it above all.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: Hymn III, To Delian Apollo, ll. 89-101
quote_or_summary: Delos is glad after the oath; Leto suffers nine days and nights
of labor with many goddesses present, while Hera keeps Eilithyia away through
envy of Leto's coming son.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is strong because the passage is explicit. Motif labels
are mapped cautiously to the supplied taxonomy; some labels are interpretive.
No comparison claims were made because the passage itself does not compare this
material to another tradition or motif family beyond the taxonomy mapping.
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: |-
All evidence is summarized from the provided public-domain passage. No external sources or unsupported comparisons were used.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-hesiod-homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-gutenberg__l5651-l5739
passage_sha256=9bb4951a972fdf58b21e81c50106d13f067843c12cfeec7f50dec3886e3dd60e