batch.motif.greek-hesiod-homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-gutenberg-l9018-l9053
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-hesiod-homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-gutenberg-l9018-l9053
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
passage_locator:
label: THE MARGITES / THE CERCOPES / THE BATTLE OF FROGS AND MICE / OF THE ORIGIN
OF HOMER AND HESIOD, AND OF THEIR CONTEST; lines 9018-9053
start: '9018'
end: '9053'
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 praises Homer as a divine poet honored by Hellas and by Argives,
describes a statue and divine-style honors for him, recounts his stay in Argos
and performance at Delos, his recognition by Ionians and Delians, his journey
to Ios, his encounter with boys whose riddle about fishing and lice he does not
understand, his remembrance of an oracle, composition of his epitaph, fall, death,
burial, and epitaph.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Homer is described as divine and as honoring Hellas through sweet-voiced art.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The Argives are described as having thrown down the god-built walls of Troy
to avenge Helen.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: People of a great city set up Homer's statue and serve him with honors of
the deathless gods.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: Homer stays in Argos, crosses to Delos, stands on an altar of horns, and recites
the Hymn to Apollo at a great assembly.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: After the hymn, Ionians make Homer a citizen of each of their states, and
Delians dedicate the poem on a whitened tablet in Artemis' temple.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: Homer sails to Ios to join Creophylus and stays there as an old man.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:7
text: While sitting by the sea, Homer asks boys returning from fishing whether they
have caught anything.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:8
text: The boys answer with an ambiguous statement that they left behind what they
caught and carry away what they did not catch.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:9
text: The boys explain that they caught no fish but had been catching lice, leaving
behind the lice caught and carrying away uncaught lice in their clothes.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:10
text: Homer remembers an oracle, perceives his life is ending, and composes his
own epitaph.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:11
text: Homer slips in a clayey place, falls on his side, dies on the third day, and
is buried in Ios.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:12
text: The epitaph says the earth covers the sacred head of divine Homer, glorifier
of hero-men.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Homer
description: A divine, sweet-voiced poet who recites the Hymn to Apollo, is honored
with godlike honors, fails to understand the boys' reply, remembers an oracle,
composes his epitaph, dies, and is buried in Ios.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Argives
description: People who threw down the god-built walls of Troy to avenge Helen.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Helen
description: Described as rich-haired and as the person whose avenging is connected
with Troy's destruction.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: People of a great city
description: They set Homer's statue in place and serve him with honors of the deathless
gods.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Ionians
description: They make Homer a citizen of each of their states after his hymn at
Delos.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Delians
description: They write the poem on a whitened tablet and dedicate it in the temple
of Artemis.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Creophylus
description: The person Homer sails to Ios to join.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Boys returning from fishing
description: Boys whom Homer questions by the sea; they answer with an ambiguous
statement and then explain it as referring to lice rather than fish.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Apollo
description: Called Apollo the far-shooter in the opening of the hymn Homer recites.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Artemis
description: The goddess whose temple receives the dedicated whitened tablet containing
the poem.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
roles:
- id: role:1
label: divine poet
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Homer is called divine and praised for sweet-voiced art.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: honored dead or hero-cult recipient
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: A statue is set up for Homer and he is served with honors of the deathless
gods.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: ritual performer
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Homer stands on the altar of horns and recites the Hymn to Apollo at Delos.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: oracle-aware dying figure
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Homer remembers the oracle, perceives that the end of his life has come,
composes his epitaph, and soon dies.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: avengers and destroyers of Troy's walls
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The Argives are said to have thrown down Troy's god-built walls to avenge
Helen.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:6
label: cause of vengeance
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The destruction of Troy's walls is linked to avenging Helen.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:7
label: cultic honorers
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: They set Homer's statue and serve him with divine-style honors.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:8
label: grantors of citizenship
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: They make Homer a citizen of each of their states.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:9
label: dedicators of poem
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: They write the poem on a whitened tablet and dedicate it in Artemis' temple.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:10
label: host or associate at Ios
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Homer sails to Ios to join Creophylus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:11
label: riddle-speakers
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: They give an ambiguous answer to Homer's fishing question and later explain
it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:12
label: hymned deity
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Homer recites the Hymn to Apollo, beginning with Apollo the far-shooter.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:13
label: temple deity
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: The whitened tablet with the poem is dedicated in Artemis' temple.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: statue
literal_form: Homer's statue set up by the people of a great city
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: god-built walls of Troy
literal_form: walls of Troy described as god-built and thrown down by Argives
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: altar of horns
literal_form: altar of horns on which Homer stands to recite the hymn
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:4
label: whitened tablet
literal_form: tablet on which the Delians write the poem and dedicate it
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:5
label: temple of Artemis
literal_form: temple of Artemis where the tablet is dedicated
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:6
label: sea
literal_form: the sea beside which Homer sits when he questions the boys
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:7
label: lice in riddle explanation
literal_form: lice caught and left behind, or uncaught and carried away in clothes
associated_figures:
- fig:8
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:8
label: clayey place
literal_form: place where Homer slips and falls before dying
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:9
label: epitaph and covering earth
literal_form: epitaph saying earth covers the sacred head of divine Homer
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Homer honored with divine-style honors
summary: Homer is praised as a divine poet; a great city sets up his statue and
serves him with honors of the deathless gods.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Memory of Troy and Helen
summary: The Argives are identified as those who destroyed the god-built walls of
Troy to avenge Helen.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:3
label: Homer at Delos
summary: After staying in Argos, Homer goes to Delos, stands on the altar of horns,
and recites the Hymn to Apollo at a great assembly.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:4
label: Civic and temple dedication after the hymn
summary: Ionians make Homer a citizen of their states, and Delians write the poem
on a whitened tablet and dedicate it in Artemis' temple.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:5
label: Riddle by the sea
summary: At Ios, Homer sits by the sea and asks boys returning from fishing whether
they caught anything; they answer with a paradoxical statement and explain it
as referring to lice.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:6
label: Oracle remembered and death of Homer
summary: Homer remembers an oracle, recognizes his approaching death, composes his
epitaph, slips in clay, dies on the third day, and is buried in Ios.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Poet or hero receives divine-style honors after death
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage says a city set up Homer's statue and served him with honors
of the deathless gods.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents honors for Homer but does not explicitly describe
a full apotheosis.
- id: motif:2
label: Public recitation leading to civic and sacred recognition
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: After Homer recites the Hymn to Apollo at Delos, the Ionians grant him citizenship
and the Delians dedicate the written poem in Artemis' temple.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage reports honors following performance, but broader ritual significance
is not stated.
- id: motif:3
label: Riddle or ambiguous speech connected with death omen
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Homer does not understand the boys' ambiguous reply; after their explanation
he remembers an oracle and perceives that his life is ending.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The exact wording of the oracle is not supplied in this passage; the wisdom
taxonomy reference is tentative and based on the riddle-like exchange.
- id: motif:4
label: Self-composed epitaph before death
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Homer perceives that his end has come and composes his own epitaph before
slipping, falling, and dying.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: No wider comparative claim is made by the passage.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 9018-9022
quote_or_summary: Homer is called divine and sweet-voiced; he honored Hellas and
especially the Argives who destroyed Troy's god-built walls to avenge Helen; a
great city set up his statue and served him with honors of the deathless gods.
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: 9023-9031
quote_or_summary: Homer travels from Argos to Delos, stands on the altar of horns,
recites the Hymn to Apollo, receives citizenship from the Ionians, has the poem
dedicated by the Delians in Artemis' temple, then sails to Ios to join Creophylus
as an old man.
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: 9032-9043
quote_or_summary: By the sea, Homer asks boys returning from fishing whether they
caught anything; they reply that they left what they caught and carry what they
did not catch, then explain this as referring to lice rather than fish.
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: 9044-9049
quote_or_summary: Homer remembers the oracle, understands that the end of his life
has come, composes his own epitaph, slips in a clayey place, falls on his side,
dies on the third day, and is buried in Ios.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: quote
locator: 9050-9053
quote_or_summary: '"Here the earth covers the sacred head of divine Homer, the glorifier
of hero-men."'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied passage. Motif labels are conservative
and mostly not mapped to the available taxonomy, except for a tentative wisdom
reference for the riddle-like exchange.
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 support comparison to another text or tradition.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-hesiod-homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-gutenberg__l9018-l9053
passage_sha256=d43df8981c495154c28c7748966283e3e5f49cf5dbc5aaef55f784a75615dc75