batch.motif.greek-hesiod-homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-gutenberg-l6546-l6640
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-hesiod-homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-gutenberg-l6546-l6640
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 6546-6640
start: '6546'
end: '6640'
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: Hermes plays the lyre and sings of the gods, moving Apollo with longing
and wonder. Apollo praises the music, calls Hermes a trickster and slayer of oxen,
and promises honor and gifts. Hermes offers Apollo the lyre as a gift and asks
for glory in return. Apollo receives the lyre, gives Hermes a whip, and appoints
him keeper of herds. Zeus makes the two sons of Zeus friends. Hermes later invents
pipes, and Apollo asks Hermes to swear not to steal his lyre and bow.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Hermes plays the lyre, tests its strings, sings, and recounts the coming-to-be
and ordering of the deathless gods.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Apollo laughs for joy and is seized by longing while listening to Hermes'
music.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Apollo addresses Hermes as slayer of oxen, trickster, busy one, and comrade
of the feast.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Apollo says Hermes' song is worth fifty cows and expects the quarrel to be
settled peacefully.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Hermes says Apollo may learn the art and offers him the lyre as a gift.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Hermes describes the lyre as a clear-voiced companion suitable for feast,
dance, and revel, and says it teaches those who inquire with wit and wisdom.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: Hermes holds out the lyre, Apollo takes it, gives Hermes a shining whip, and
appoints Hermes keeper of herds.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: The two sons of Zeus turn the cows back toward the sacred meadow and go to
snowy Olympus.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: Zeus is glad and makes Hermes and Apollo friends.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: Hermes invents another cunning art and makes pipes whose sound is heard afar.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:11
text: Apollo fears Hermes may steal the lyre and curved bow and asks him to swear
by the gods' oath, by nodding his head or by the water of Styx.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Hermes, son of Maia
description: The son of Maia; called slayer of Argus, slayer of oxen, trickster,
busy one, guide, cunning one, and son of Zeus; player and giver of the lyre.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Phoebus Apollo, son of Leto
description: The son of Leto; called Far-shooter or Far-worker; moved by Hermes'
music, receives the lyre, gives Hermes a whip, and asks for an oath.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:3
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Zeus
description: Wise Zeus; father of Hermes and Apollo, source of Apollo's honors and
ordinances, and the god who makes Hermes and Apollo friends.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Mnemosyne
description: Mother of the Muses, honored first in Hermes' song.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Muses
description: The Muses are associated with Mnemosyne and with Apollo's musical tradition.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
roles:
- id: role:1
label: divine musician and singer
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Hermes plays the lyre and sings about the gods and earth.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: divine listener and recipient of musical art
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Apollo is moved by the music, praises it, and receives the lyre.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: participants in reconciliatory exchange
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:2
basis: The lyre is transferred to Apollo, while the whip and herding office are
given to Hermes, settling the quarrel peacefully.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: role:4
label: trickster and potential thief
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Apollo calls Hermes a trickster and thievish son of Maia and later fears
he may steal the lyre and bow.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- id: role:5
label: keeper of herds and maker of pipes
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Apollo appoints Hermes keeper of herds, and Hermes later makes pipes.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:6
label: giver of office and oath-seeker
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Apollo ordains Hermes keeper of herds and asks him to swear an oath not to
steal.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: role:7
label: divine reconciler
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Zeus is glad and makes Hermes and Apollo friends.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:8
label: figures invoked in song and musical order
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:5
basis: Hermes honors Mnemosyne in song, and Apollo identifies himself with the Olympian
Muses' musical sphere.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: lyre
literal_form: A marvellous, clear-voiced musical instrument played by Hermes and
then given to Apollo.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: sym:2
label: shining whip
literal_form: A shining whip placed by Apollo in Hermes' hand when Hermes gives
him the lyre.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: cows and herds
literal_form: Cows and wild-roving cattle associated with the quarrel, the value
of the song, and Hermes' appointed office.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: pipes
literal_form: Pipes invented by Hermes after giving the lyre to Apollo.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:5
label: snowy Olympus
literal_form: The destination to which Hermes and Apollo hasten after turning back
the cows.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: water of Styx
literal_form: The potent water of Styx named by Apollo as a form of divine oath.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:7
label: curved bow
literal_form: Apollo's curved bow, which he fears Hermes may steal along with the
lyre.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:8
label: shaft of cornel wood
literal_form: Apollo's shaft of cornel wood, by which he declares he will make Hermes
renowned and give gifts.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Hermes performs the lyre-song
summary: Hermes plays the lyre and sings of the gods, beginning with Mnemosyne and
recounting the immortals in order; Apollo responds with joy and longing.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Apollo praises the new music
summary: Apollo marvels at Hermes' instrument and song, calls him a trickster and
slayer of oxen, values the song at fifty cows, and promises renown and gifts.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Hermes offers the lyre
summary: Hermes says Apollo may learn the art, describes the lyre's powers, gives
it as a gift, and asks Apollo to bestow glory on him.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Exchange of lyre and herding office
summary: Hermes holds out the lyre; Apollo takes it, gives Hermes a shining whip,
and ordains him keeper of herds.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Friendship on Olympus and invention of pipes
summary: Hermes and Apollo return the cows toward the sacred meadow and go to Olympus;
Zeus makes them friends, Apollo keeps the lyre, and Hermes invents pipes.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:6
label: Apollo requests an oath
summary: Apollo fears Hermes may steal the lyre and curved bow and asks for a divine
oath, naming the water of Styx as one possible oath form.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Reconciliatory divine exchange of gifts and offices
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: A divine quarrel is settled when Hermes gives Apollo the lyre and Apollo
gives Hermes a whip and herding office; Zeus confirms their friendship.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents the exchange as divine reconciliation, but the broader
quarrel is only partly visible in this excerpt.
- id: motif:2
label: Trickster deity as mediator of theft, barter, and oath
taxonomy_refs:
- trickster_boundary
- sacred_theft
basis: Hermes is explicitly called trickster and thievish, is associated with barter
among men, and Apollo asks him to swear not to steal the lyre and bow.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The actual theft is not narrated in this selected passage; it is alluded
to through names, fear, and the context of quarrel.
- id: motif:3
label: Transmission of divine musical art
taxonomy_refs:
- culture_hero
basis: Hermes creates or possesses the lyre art, teaches or transfers it to Apollo,
and later invents pipes whose sound is heard afar.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The available taxonomy has no specific music-invention motif; culture_hero
is an approximate family-level reference.
- id: motif:4
label: Divine oath securing trust after trickery
taxonomy_refs:
- covenant
basis: Apollo requests a great oath of the gods to ease his fear that Hermes may
steal his lyre and bow.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: low
cautions: The oath is requested but not completed within the passage; covenant is
a broad taxonomy fit.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: ll. 414-435
quote_or_summary: Hermes plays the lyre, sings of the gods and dark earth, honors
Mnemosyne first, and Apollo is moved with joy and longing.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:2
type: quote
locator: ll. 436-462
quote_or_summary: Apollo calls Hermes 'Slayer of oxen, trickster' and says the song
is 'worth fifty cows' before promising renown and gifts.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; short quotation from supplied passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: ll. 463-495
quote_or_summary: Hermes invites Apollo to learn the art, gives him the lyre, describes
its power to delight and teach the wise, and asks Apollo to bestow glory on him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: ll. 496-502
quote_or_summary: Hermes holds out the lyre; Apollo takes it, gives Hermes a shining
whip, ordains him keeper of herds, and plays the lyre himself.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: ll. 503-512
quote_or_summary: Hermes and Apollo return the cows toward the sacred meadow, go
to Olympus, Zeus makes them friends, Apollo keeps the lyre, and Hermes makes pipes.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: ll. 513-520
quote_or_summary: Apollo addresses Hermes as guide and cunning one, fears he may
steal the lyre and curved bow, and asks him to swear by the gods' oath or water
of Styx.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized from supplied passage.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is strongly supported by the supplied passage. Motif labels
use the provided taxonomy where applicable; several are broad family-level assignments.
No external comparison claims were made.
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 supplied passage text and metadata. Comparison claims left empty because the passage does not itself make a cross-textual or cross-traditional comparison.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-hesiod-homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-gutenberg__l6546-l6640
passage_sha256=19c8f5c09626850166452a84b650c3034742c6bb643a8f5c2faae37667fb4834