batch.motif.greek-hesiod-homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-gutenberg-l6148-l6247
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-hesiod-homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-gutenberg-l6148-l6247
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
passage_locator:
label: II. TO DEMETER / III. TO DELIAN APOLLO / TO PYTHIAN APOLLO / IV. TO HERMES;
lines 6148-6247
start: '6148'
end: '6247'
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: Born with the dawning, at mid-day he played on the lyre, and in the evening
he stole the cattle of far-shooting Apollo...
summary: The hymn invokes Hermes as son of Zeus and Maia, born in Maia's cave. Immediately
after birth he leaves his cradle, finds a tortoise, transforms it into a lyre,
sings of his own divine begetting, then turns to trickery. At night he steals
Apollo's cattle, disguises the tracks, instructs an old vineyard-worker to keep
silent, drives the cattle to the Alpheus, and begins to seek the art of fire.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Hermes is identified as the son of Zeus and Maia and as messenger of the immortals,
lord of Cyllene and Arcadia rich in flocks.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Maia lives in a deep, shady cave and is joined in love with Zeus there at
night, unseen by gods and mortals while Hera sleeps.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Hermes is born as a child described with multiple attributes including cunning,
robber, cattle driver, dream-bringer, night-watcher, and thief at the gates.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: On the day of his birth, Hermes plays the lyre at midday and steals Apollo's
cattle in the evening.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Hermes finds a tortoise at the cave threshold and addresses it as an omen
and as a future source of song.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Hermes kills and hollows the tortoise, fixes reeds, ox hide, horns, a cross-piece,
and seven sheep-gut strings to make a lyre.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Hermes tests the lyre, and it sounds marvellously; he sings of Zeus, Maia,
their union, his own begetting, Maia's handmaids, home, tripods, and cauldrons.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: While singing, Hermes is intent on other matters, places the lyre in his cradle,
leaves the hall, and goes to a watch-place with trickery in mind because he wants
to taste flesh.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: At sunset Hermes goes to Pieria, separates fifty cattle from Apollo's herd,
and drives them away.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: Hermes disguises the trail by reversing hoof-marks and walking in the opposite
direction, and he makes wicker sandals of tamarisk and myrtle twigs.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: An old man working in a vineyard sees Hermes, and Hermes tells him to remember
not to have seen or heard what he saw and heard.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:12
text: Hermes drives the cattle through mountains, gorges, and plains during the
night to the river Alpheus, places them in byres, feeds them, and begins to seek
the art of fire.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Hermes
description: Son of Zeus and Maia; luck-bringing messenger of the immortals; newly
born god who makes the lyre and steals Apollo's cattle.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Zeus
description: Son of Cronos; divine father of Hermes who joins with Maia in her cave.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Maia
description: Rich-tressed nymph and shy goddess who lives in a deep, shady cave
and bears Hermes.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Hera
description: White-armed goddess held by sweet sleep while Zeus visits Maia at night.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Apollo
description: Far-shooting Phoebus Apollo, owner of the cattle stolen by Hermes.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Tortoise
description: Mountain-tortoise found by Hermes at the courtyard gate; its shell
is made into the first lyre.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Old vineyard-worker
description: Old man tilling a flowering vineyard who sees Hermes crossing the plain
through Onchestus.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Sun
description: The Sun goes down beneath the earth toward Ocean with horses and chariot
as Hermes approaches Pieria.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Selene
description: Bright Selene, daughter of Pallas, climbs her watch-post near dawn
as Hermes drives the cattle to the Alpheus.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
roles:
- id: role:1
label: divine child
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Hermes is born to Zeus and Maia and immediately performs extraordinary actions.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: trickster-thief
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage calls Hermes cunning, a robber, and thief, and describes his
deceptive cattle theft and track disguise.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- id: role:3
label: inventor of the lyre
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Hermes first makes the tortoise a singer and constructs the lyre from the
tortoise shell and other materials.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:4
label: cattle driver
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Hermes is called a cattle driver and drives away fifty of Apollo's cattle.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- id: role:5
label: divine father
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Zeus joins with Maia and is father of Hermes.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- id: role:6
label: divine mother
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Maia bears Hermes after union with Zeus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:7
label: owner of stolen cattle
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The cattle stolen and driven away by Hermes belong to Apollo.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: role:8
label: animal transformed into instrument
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Hermes carries the tortoise indoors, hollows it, and makes it into a lyre.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:9
label: human witness
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The old vineyard-worker sees Hermes and is instructed to keep silent.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: deep shady cave
literal_form: cave dwelling of Maia
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- cave
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: tortoise shell lyre
literal_form: tortoise shell fitted with reeds, hide, horns, cross-piece, and seven
strings
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: Apollo's cattle
literal_form: fifty loud-lowing cattle separated from Apollo's herd
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: sym:4
label: reversed hoof-prints and wicker sandals
literal_form: altered cattle tracks and sandals made of tamarisk and myrtle twigs
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:5
label: night concealment
literal_form: dark night during which Hermes drives the stolen cattle
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:9
- id: sym:6
label: mountains and gorges
literal_form: shadowy mountains of Pieria, shadowy mountains, echoing gorges, and
flowery plains
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: sym:7
label: fire sought at Alpheus
literal_form: the art of fire sought after the cattle are placed in byres
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Concealed union and birth in Maia's cave
summary: Zeus visits Maia secretly at night in her cave; Maia bears Hermes, who
is immediately marked as cunning and capable of notable deeds.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Infant Hermes makes the lyre
summary: Hermes leaves his cradle, finds a tortoise at the cave threshold, carries
it indoors, and turns its shell into a seven-stringed lyre.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Hermes sings of his own begetting
summary: After making the lyre, Hermes tests it and sings about Zeus, Maia, their
love, his birth, and Maia's home.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Planning and theft of Apollo's cattle
summary: Hermes leaves the hall with trickery in mind, goes to Pieria at sunset,
steals fifty of Apollo's cattle, and disguises the tracks with reversed hoof-marks
and wicker sandals.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Silencing the vineyard witness
summary: An old man sees Hermes crossing Onchestus, and Hermes tells him to keep
silent about what he has seen and heard.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:7
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:6
label: Night drive to the Alpheus and search for fire
summary: Hermes drives the cattle through mountains, gorges, and plains under night
and near dawn, brings them to the Alpheus, feeds and pens them, and begins to
seek the art of fire.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: miraculous divine child performs adult deeds immediately after birth
taxonomy_refs:
- miraculous_child
- sacred_birth
- divine_parent_child
basis: Hermes is born from Zeus and Maia and, on the same day, leaves the cradle,
makes music, and steals Apollo's cattle.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The taxonomy labels are broad; the passage itself emphasizes divine birth
and precocious action rather than a single formal motif name.
- id: motif:2
label: trickster theft with concealed tracks
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_theft
- trickster_boundary
basis: Hermes steals Apollo's cattle, reverses the hoof-marks, walks another way,
and uses unusual sandals to obscure his own trail.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The passage describes theft from another god; the sacredness of the theft
is inferred from divine actors and cattle of the gods.
- id: motif:3
label: culture invention from animal body
taxonomy_refs:
- culture_hero
basis: Hermes turns the tortoise into the first singer by making a lyre from its
shell and other materials.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage supports invention of the lyre, but broader culture-hero classification
requires caution.
- id: motif:4
label: secret divine union in hidden cave
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_beloved
- sacred_birth
basis: Zeus secretly lies with Maia in her deep, shady cave at night, and Maia bears
Hermes.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not frame the union as a marriage or ritual; classification
is limited to hidden divine union and resulting birth.
- id: motif:5
label: obtaining or seeking fire after cattle theft
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: After driving Apollo's cattle to the Alpheus and placing them in byres, Hermes
begins to seek the art of fire.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: low
cautions: The supplied passage ends as the search for fire begins, so the function
and outcome are not shown here.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: IV. TO HERMES, ll. 1-11; source lines 6148-6247
quote_or_summary: Hermes is invoked as son of Zeus and Maia, messenger of the immortals;
Maia lives in a deep, shady cave where Zeus visits her secretly at night while
Hera sleeps.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; concise summary used.
- id: ev:2
type: quote
locator: IV. TO HERMES, ll. 12-29; source lines 6148-6247
quote_or_summary: Hermes is described as 'of many shifts, blandly cunning, a robber,
a cattle driver... a thief at the gates'; born at dawn, he plays the lyre at midday
and steals Apollo's cattle in the evening.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; short excerpt used.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: IV. TO HERMES, ll. 20-38; source lines 6148-6247
quote_or_summary: Hermes leaves the cradle, finds a tortoise at the threshold, laughs,
calls it an omen of luck, carries it within, and says that if it dies it will
make sweetest song.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; concise summary used.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: IV. TO HERMES, ll. 39-51; source lines 6148-6247
quote_or_summary: Hermes cuts and hollows the tortoise, fixes reeds through the
shell, stretches ox hide, adds horns and a cross-piece, and strings it with seven
sheep-gut strings.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; concise summary used.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: IV. TO HERMES, ll. 51-61; source lines 6148-6247
quote_or_summary: Hermes tests the lyre, which sounds marvellously, and sings of
Zeus, Maia, their love, his own begetting, Maia's handmaids, her home, tripods,
and cauldrons.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; concise summary used.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: IV. TO HERMES, ll. 62-67; source lines 6148-6247
quote_or_summary: While singing, Hermes is intent on other matters, lays the lyre
in his cradle, goes to a watch-place, and ponders trickery in the dark night because
he longs to taste flesh.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; concise summary used.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: IV. TO HERMES, ll. 68-86; source lines 6148-6247
quote_or_summary: At sunset Hermes reaches Pieria, cuts off fifty cattle from Apollo's
herd, drives them over sandy ground, reverses their hoof-marks, walks another
way, and makes wicker sandals from tamarisk and myrtle twigs.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; concise summary used.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: IV. TO HERMES, ll. 87-93; source lines 6148-6247
quote_or_summary: An old man tilling a vineyard sees Hermes; Hermes tells him he
will have much wine if he remembers not to have seen or heard what he saw and
heard, and keeps silent.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; concise summary used.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: IV. TO HERMES, ll. 94-114; source lines 6148-6247
quote_or_summary: Hermes drives the cattle through mountains, gorges, and plains
as night passes and Selene rises; he brings them to the Alpheus, puts them in
byres, feeds them, and begins to seek the art of fire.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; concise summary used.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is well supported by the supplied passage. Motif assignments
use only available taxonomy labels and remain provisional. No comparison claims
were made because the passage itself does not explicitly compare traditions or
motif families.
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 observations, figures, roles, symbols, scenes, and motif candidates cite supplied-passage evidence only.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-hesiod-homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-gutenberg__l6148-l6247
passage_sha256=dabe54db74418603f542a97a6742b186b4021a0052c68a04e66d8e497fb4b9ec