batch.motif.greek-hesiod-homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-gutenberg-l6642-l6699
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-hesiod-homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-gutenberg-l6642-l6699
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 6642-6699
start: '6642'
end: '6699'
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 promises not to steal Apollo's possessions, and Apollo swears friendship
with him. Zeus confirms the agreement by sending an eagle. Apollo grants Hermes
a golden three-branched staff and explains limits on divine prophecy, reserving
Zeus's counsel to himself. Apollo then gives Hermes access to three winged holy
sisters beneath Parnassus who speak truth when fed honey and falsehood when deprived
of it. Zeus confirms Hermes' authority over omen birds, certain wild animals,
flocks, and sheep, and appoints him messenger to Hades. The hymn closes by noting
Hermes' association with mortals and immortals and his night-time deception of
mortal men.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Hermes nods and promises never to steal any of Apollo's possessions or approach
Apollo's strong house.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Apollo swears to be Hermes' fellow and friend and says he will love no other
immortal, god, or Zeus-born man better than Hermes.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Zeus sends an eagle as confirmation of the oath and agreement.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Apollo says he will make Hermes an omen for immortals and give him a golden
staff with three branches that protects him and accomplishes good tasks of words
or deeds.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: Apollo refuses to teach Hermes the full art of sooth-saying, saying only Zeus'
mind knows it and that Apollo alone among the eternal gods may know Zeus' counsel.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: Apollo distinguishes between men guided by sure omen birds, who benefit through
his voice, and those trusting idle-chattering birds against his will, whose journey
is idle though he would accept their gifts.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: Apollo describes three holy winged virgin sisters living under a ridge of
Parnassus, with heads sprinkled with white meal.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: The three sisters fly about, feed on honeycomb, and bring things to pass.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: When inspired by eating yellow honey the sisters speak truth; when deprived
of the gods' sweet food they speak falsely.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: Apollo gives the three sisters to Hermes and tells him to question them strictly.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: Zeus confirms Apollo's words and commands that Hermes be lord over omen birds,
lions, boars, dogs, flocks, and sheep.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:12
text: Zeus appoints Hermes as the messenger to Hades.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: obs:13
text: Hermes consorts with both mortals and immortals, profits a little, and continually
deceives mortal men through the dark night.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Hermes, son of Maia
description: Recipient of Apollo's friendship, staff, divinatory sisters, and Zeus-confirmed
authority; later described as consorting with mortals and immortals and deceiving
mortal men at night.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Apollo, son of Leto
description: God who swears friendship with Hermes, gives him gifts, limits access
to Zeus' counsel, and describes omen practice and the three holy sisters.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:10
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Zeus
description: Father who confirms the oath with an eagle and later confirms Hermes'
new domains and appointment as messenger to Hades.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Three holy winged virgin sisters
description: Sisters living under a ridge of Parnassus, sprinkled with white meal,
flying about and speaking truth when fed honey but falsehood when deprived of
it.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Mortals
description: Human recipients of Apollo's omen guidance or deception; Hermes consorts
with them and cozens them at night.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:13
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Hades
description: Underworld figure to whom Hermes is appointed messenger.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
roles:
- id: role:1
label: oath-maker
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Hermes promises not to steal Apollo's possessions or approach his house.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: recipient of divine gifts
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Apollo gives Hermes a golden staff and the three holy sisters; Zeus confirms
additional authority.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: role:3
label: appointed messenger to Hades
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Zeus commands that Hermes alone be the appointed messenger to Hades.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: role:4
label: night deceiver of mortals
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage says Hermes continually cozens mortal men throughout the dark
night.
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: role:5
label: divine giver and oath-bound friend
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Apollo swears friendship and gives Hermes a staff and access to the holy
sisters.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:10
- id: role:6
label: guardian of Zeus' prophetic counsel
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Apollo says it is not lawful for Hermes or other gods to learn the sooth-saying
known by Zeus' mind, and that Apollo alone is sworn to know Zeus' counsel.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:7
label: divine confirmer
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Zeus sends an eagle in confirmation and confirms Apollo's words concerning
Hermes' domains.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: role:8
label: conditional diviners
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The sisters speak truth when inspired by honey and falsehood when deprived
of divine food.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: role:9
label: human recipients of omens or deception
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Men may benefit from sure omen birds or have an idle journey; Hermes also
deceives mortal men at night.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:13
- id: role:10
label: underworld addressee
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Hermes is appointed messenger to Hades.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: confirming eagle
literal_form: eagle sent by Zeus
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:2
label: golden three-branched staff
literal_form: gold staff with three branches
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: omen birds
literal_form: birds whose call and flight guide men as omens
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:11
- id: sym:4
label: Parnassus ridge
literal_form: ridge of Parnassus under which the holy sisters dwell
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:5
label: honeycomb and yellow honey
literal_form: sweet food eaten by the holy sisters, enabling truthful speech when
present
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: sym:6
label: white meal on heads
literal_form: white meal sprinkled on the heads of the three sisters
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:7
label: animal lordship
literal_form: birds of omen, lions, boars, dogs, flocks, and sheep placed under
Hermes' authority
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: sym:8
label: Hades as destination of message
literal_form: Hades named as recipient or destination of Hermes' appointed messaging
role
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Hermes and Apollo exchange oaths of restraint and friendship
summary: Hermes promises not to steal from Apollo, and Apollo swears friendship
and special love for Hermes; Zeus confirms the agreement with an eagle.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:2
label: Apollo grants Hermes a staff and defines prophetic limits
summary: Apollo offers Hermes a golden three-branched staff and says that the deepest
counsel of Zeus is not lawful for Hermes or other gods to learn.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:3
label: Omen practice and the three honey-fed diviners
summary: Apollo describes the use and misuse of bird omens, then gives Hermes three
winged sisters under Parnassus who speak truth when fed honey and falsehood when
deprived of it.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: scene:4
label: Zeus confirms Hermes' domains and underworld appointment
summary: Zeus confirms Apollo's words and commands that Hermes rule over omen birds
and several animals and be messenger to Hades.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: scene:5
label: Closing characterization of Hermes
summary: The hymn says Hermes associates with mortals and immortals, gives small
profit, and continually deceives mortal men at night.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: divine oath and gift exchange after conflict
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: Hermes' promise not to steal from Apollo is followed by Apollo's oath of
friendship and grants of a staff and divinatory access, with Zeus confirming the
arrangement.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The immediate prior conflict is only indirectly present in this excerpt
through Hermes' promise not to steal.
- id: motif:2
label: limited access to divine knowledge
taxonomy_refs:
- forbidden_knowledge
- wisdom
basis: Apollo says the requested sooth-saying is not lawful for Hermes or other
gods to learn and that only Zeus' mind knows it, while Apollo alone is oath-bound
to know Zeus' counsel.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage concerns restricted divine prophecy rather than a mortal prohibition
narrative.
- id: motif:3
label: conditional divination through honey-fed winged sisters
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The holy sisters teach divination and speak truth when inspired by honey,
but falsehood when deprived of the gods' sweet food.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: No broader taxonomy item specifically names bee-maidens or honey divination.
- id: motif:4
label: trickster who crosses mortal and immortal boundaries
taxonomy_refs:
- trickster_boundary
basis: Hermes is described as consorting with both mortals and immortals and continually
deceiving mortal men in the dark night.
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives a closing characterization rather than an extended trickster
episode.
- id: motif:5
label: divine messenger to the underworld
taxonomy_refs:
- afterlife_journey_map
basis: Zeus appoints Hermes as the messenger to Hades.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
confidence: medium
cautions: The excerpt does not narrate an actual journey to the afterlife or map
the underworld.
- id: motif:6
label: divine lordship over omen birds and animals
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Zeus commands that Hermes be lord over omen birds, lions, boars, dogs, flocks,
and sheep.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: No provided taxonomy family directly corresponds to animal lordship or
omens.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: ll. 521-523
quote_or_summary: Hermes promises never to steal anything belonging to Apollo and
never to go near his strong house.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: ll. 523-526
quote_or_summary: Apollo swears to be fellow and friend to Hermes and to love no
other among immortals or Zeus-born men better than Hermes.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:3
type: quote
locator: ll. 526-527
quote_or_summary: "“the Father sent forth an eagle in confirmation”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short excerpt from supplied passage.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: ll. 527-533
quote_or_summary: Apollo says he will make Hermes an omen for immortals and will
give him a gold, three-branched staff that keeps him unharmed and accomplishes
good tasks of words or deeds.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: ll. 533-541
quote_or_summary: Apollo says it is not lawful for Hermes or other gods to learn
the requested sooth-saying; only Zeus' mind knows it, and Apollo is sworn as the
sole god to know Zeus' wise counsel.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: ll. 541-549
quote_or_summary: Apollo says a man guided by the call and flight of sure omen birds
will benefit through his voice, while one trusting idle-chattering birds against
Apollo's will will make an idle journey, though Apollo would accept his gifts.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: ll. 550-555
quote_or_summary: Apollo describes three holy winged virgin sisters, with heads
sprinkled with white meal, dwelling under a ridge of Parnassus.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: ll. 555-559
quote_or_summary: The sisters are teachers of divination apart from Apollo; they
fly from their home, feed on honeycomb, and bring all things to pass.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: ll. 559-563
quote_or_summary: When inspired by eating yellow honey, the sisters speak truth;
when deprived of the gods' sweet food, they speak falsely as they swarm in and
out together.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: ll. 563-568
quote_or_summary: Apollo gives the sisters to Hermes, tells him to inquire of them
strictly, and says a mortal taught this practice may hear Hermes' response if
fortunate.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: ll. 568a-572
quote_or_summary: Zeus confirms Apollo's words and commands that Hermes be lord
over omen birds, lions, boars, dogs, flocks, and sheep.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:12
type: quote
locator: ll. 572-573
quote_or_summary: "“he only should be the appointed messenger to Hades”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short excerpt from supplied passage.
- id: ev:13
type: summary
locator: ll. 574-578
quote_or_summary: Apollo shows friendship to Hermes, Zeus gives him grace, and Hermes
consorts with mortals and immortals, gives small profit, and continually cozens
mortal men through the dark night.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summary generated from supplied passage.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is well supported by the supplied passage. Motif labels
are candidate classifications from the provided taxonomy and require human review,
especially for underworld-messenger and restricted-knowledge categories.
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 comparison claims were added because the passage itself does not explicitly compare these elements to another text, tradition, or motif family beyond the supplied taxonomy categories.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-hesiod-homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-gutenberg__l6642-l6699
passage_sha256=693c34c6dba775a29a7f0aa66bb666911d299e4f42ad4e5034257a973e0c45ff