batch.motif.greek-hesiod-homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-gutenberg-l9372-l9514
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-hesiod-homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-gutenberg-l9372-l9514
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
passage_locator:
label: THE CERCOPES / THE BATTLE OF FROGS AND MICE / OF THE ORIGIN OF HOMER AND
HESIOD, AND OF THEIR CONTEST / ENDNOTES; lines 9372-9514
start: '9372'
end: '9514'
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 is a sequence of editorial endnotes identifying sources, explaining
fragmentary contexts, and briefly summarizing several mythic references, including
Glaucus and cattle, Aphrodite's curse, Atalanta's apples, the daughters of Proetus,
Europa and the crocus, Scythians and mare's milk, deceptive oracular consultation,
and the pursuit of the Harpies by the sons of Boreas.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: A note explains that a price was to be given to a woman's father and compares
maidens called earners of oxen in the Iliad; it also suggests Glaucus may have
raided cattle.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: A note explains that Glaucus should father the children of others and says
the curse of Aphrodite on the daughters of Tyndareus may be compared.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Aphrodite gave three items to a male figure to enable him to overcome Atalanta.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: The daughters of Proetus were sought in marriage by all the Greeks.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: After offending Dionysus, or in another version Juno, the daughters of Proetus
were afflicted with a disease that destroyed their beauty, or were turned into
cows.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: The daughters of Proetus were finally healed by Melampus.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: The crocus was used to attract Europa, and the note compares this with a similar
story of Persephone.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: A place or object is described as sacred to Poseidon, with an associated custom
compared to a passage in a Homeric Hymn.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: The nomad Scythians are described as feeding on mare's milk and living in
caravans.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: Those who try to outwit the oracle or ask more than they ought will be deceived
by it and led to ruin.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:11
text: Zetes and Calais, sons of Boreas and members of the Argonauts, delivered Phineus
from the Harpies.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:12
text: The Strophades are explained as Islands of Turning because Iris turned back
the sons of Boreas from pursuing the Harpies there.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:13
text: A note glosses three names as Charming-with-her-voice or Charming-the-mind,
Song, and Lovely-sounding.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Glaucus
description: A figure associated in the notes with cattle-raiding and with fathering
the children of others.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Aphrodite
description: A goddess connected with a curse on the daughters of Tyndareus and
with giving three items used against Atalanta.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Daughters of Tyndareus
description: A group said to be under a curse of Aphrodite in a comparative note.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Atalanta
description: A female figure whom another figure was enabled to overcome with three
items from Aphrodite.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Daughters of Proetus
description: A group sought in marriage by all the Greeks, afflicted after offending
a deity, and healed by Melampus.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Dionysus
description: A deity whom the daughters of Proetus offended in one version.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Juno
description: A deity whom the daughters of Proetus offended in another version.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Melampus
description: The healer of the daughters of Proetus.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Europa
description: A figure attracted by the crocus.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Persephone
description: A figure in a story described as very similar to the Europa crocus
episode.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Poseidon
description: A deity to whom a place or object is described as sacred.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Scythians
description: Nomads described as feeding on mare's milk and living in caravans.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Oracle
description: An oracular power or institution that deceives those who try to outwit
it or ask more than they ought.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:14
name_or_label: Zetes
description: A son of Boreas, one of the Argonauts, who helped deliver Phineus from
the Harpies and was turned back by Iris.
role_refs:
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:15
name_or_label: Calais
description: A son of Boreas, one of the Argonauts, who helped deliver Phineus from
the Harpies and was turned back by Iris.
role_refs:
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:16
name_or_label: Boreas
description: Father of Zetes and Calais.
role_refs:
- role:15
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:17
name_or_label: Phineus
description: A figure delivered from the Harpies by Zetes and Calais.
role_refs:
- role:16
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:18
name_or_label: Harpies
description: Beings from whom Phineus was delivered and whom the sons of Boreas
pursued.
role_refs:
- role:17
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:19
name_or_label: Iris
description: A figure who turned back the sons of Boreas from pursuing the Harpies.
role_refs:
- role:18
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
roles:
- id: role:1
label: cattle-associated male under reproductive consequence
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The notes associate Glaucus with possible cattle-raiding and with fathering
the children of others.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: divine curser
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Aphrodite's curse on the daughters of Tyndareus is mentioned.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: divine helper in contest
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Aphrodite gave three items used to overcome Atalanta.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: cursed daughters
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: They are cited as affected by Aphrodite's curse.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: female contest opponent
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Atalanta is the figure to be overcome with Aphrodite's gifts.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:6
label: afflicted marriageable daughters
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: They were sought in marriage, then afflicted or transformed, and later healed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:7
label: offended deity
assigned_to:
- fig:6
- fig:7
basis: The note gives Dionysus, or in another version Juno, as the offended deity.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:8
label: healer
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Melampus finally healed the daughters of Proetus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:9
label: attracted female figure
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The crocus was to attract Europa.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:10
label: parallel attracted female figure
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Persephone is named in the note as part of a very similar story.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:11
label: deity of sacred place or object
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: The note says it was sacred to Poseidon.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:12
label: nomadic milk-drinking group
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: The Scythians are described as feeding on mare's milk and living in caravans.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:13
label: deceptive oracle when abused
assigned_to:
- fig:13
basis: The oracle deceives those who try to outwit it or ask too much.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:14
label: rescuing pursuers
assigned_to:
- fig:14
- fig:15
basis: Zetes and Calais delivered Phineus from the Harpies and pursued them until
turned back.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:15
label: divine or ancestral father
assigned_to:
- fig:16
basis: Boreas is named as the father of Zetes and Calais.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:16
label: rescued victim
assigned_to:
- fig:17
basis: Phineus was delivered from the Harpies.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:17
label: pursued tormentors
assigned_to:
- fig:18
basis: The Harpies are the beings from whom Phineus was delivered and whom the sons
of Boreas pursued.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:18
label: divine stopper of pursuit
assigned_to:
- fig:19
basis: Iris turned back the sons of Boreas from pursuing the Harpies.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: oxen or cattle as exchange value
literal_form: oxen, cattle, and bride-price language
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: three contest gifts
literal_form: three items from Aphrodite used to overcome Atalanta
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: afflicting disease or cow transformation
literal_form: disease destroying beauty, or transformation into cows
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: crocus as attraction device
literal_form: crocus
associated_figures:
- fig:9
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:5
label: mare's milk
literal_form: milk
associated_figures:
- fig:12
taxonomy_refs:
- milk
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:6
label: oracle with dangerous limits
literal_form: oracle
associated_figures:
- fig:13
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:7
label: Islands of Turning
literal_form: Strophades, explained as Islands of Turning
associated_figures:
- fig:14
- fig:15
- fig:18
- fig:19
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:8
label: charming voice names
literal_form: names glossed as Charming-with-her-voice or Charming-the-mind, Song,
and Lovely-sounding
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Bride-price, cattle, and reproductive curse
summary: The notes connect bride-price imagery with oxen, possible cattle-raiding
by Glaucus, and a consequence in which Glaucus fathers the children of others;
a curse of Aphrodite on the daughters of Tyndareus is compared.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Aphrodite's three gifts against Atalanta
summary: Aphrodite gives three items to a male figure so that he may overcome Atalanta.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Affliction and healing of the daughters of Proetus
summary: The daughters of Proetus are sought in marriage, offend a deity, become
diseased or transformed into cows, and are healed by Melampus.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Crocus attracting Europa
summary: A crocus attracts Europa, and the note compares this to a similar Persephone
story.
figure_refs:
- fig:9
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Poseidon sacred context
summary: A place or object is described as sacred to Poseidon, with a related custom
cross-referenced to a Homeric Hymn.
figure_refs:
- fig:11
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:6
label: Nomadic Scythian milk diet
summary: The Scythians are described as nomads who drink mare's milk and live in
caravans.
figure_refs:
- fig:12
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:7
label: Danger of outwitting the oracle
summary: Those who try to outwit the oracle or ask excessive questions are deceived
by it and led to ruin.
figure_refs:
- fig:13
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:8
label: Sons of Boreas and the Harpies
summary: Zetes and Calais deliver Phineus from the Harpies, pursue the Harpies to
the Strophades, and are turned back by Iris.
figure_refs:
- fig:14
- fig:15
- fig:16
- fig:17
- fig:18
- fig:19
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Bride-price and cattle exchange
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: The note describes a price given to a woman's father and links maidens with
oxen as exchange value.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage is an editorial note, not a narrative scene; the sacred dimension
is not explicit.
- id: motif:2
label: Divine curse affecting fertility or lineage
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Glaucus is said to father the children of others, and the note compares Aphrodite's
curse on the daughters of Tyndareus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The note gives only a compressed explanation of the curse and its comparison.
- id: motif:3
label: Offended deity causes affliction and loss of beauty
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: The daughters of Proetus offend Dionysus or Juno and are afflicted with a
disease that destroys their beauty.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The note reports variant divine agents.
- id: motif:4
label: Human-to-cow transformation as variant affliction
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
basis: One version says the daughters of Proetus were turned into cows.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The cow transformation is presented as an alternative version rather than
the only form of the story.
- id: motif:5
label: Healing of divinely afflicted women
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The daughters of Proetus are finally healed by Melampus after their affliction.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: No available taxonomy family directly names healing or purification.
- id: motif:6
label: Divine contest aid used to overcome a woman
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Aphrodite gives three items enabling a figure to overcome Atalanta.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: medium
cautions: The exact objects are not named in the supplied passage, only their number
and function.
- id: motif:7
label: Floral lure for a female figure
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The crocus is said to attract Europa, with an explicit comparison to the
Persephone story.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not narrate the full surrounding event, only the attraction
by the flower.
- id: motif:8
label: Dangerous oracle punishing overreach
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
- trickster_boundary
basis: Those who try to outwit the oracle or ask too much are deceived and led to
ruin.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The phrase appears in an explanatory note rather than a full mythic narrative.
- id: motif:9
label: Brother-pair rescues victim from monstrous beings
taxonomy_refs:
- sibling_pair
basis: Zetes and Calais, both sons of Boreas, deliver Phineus from the Harpies and
pursue them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage calls them sons of Boreas but does not explicitly use the
word brothers.
- id: motif:10
label: Pursuit halted by divine intervention at a named island
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Iris turns back the sons of Boreas from pursuing the Harpies, giving the
Strophades an explanatory name.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: No available taxonomy family directly captures the etiological naming
and halted pursuit pattern.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The reproductive consequence involving Glaucus is explicitly compared in
the note with Aphrodite's curse on the daughters of Tyndareus.
claim_level: same_function
target: Curse of Aphrodite on the daughters of Tyndareus
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The note states the comparison but gives few details about the Tyndareus
episode.
- id: claim:2
claim: The use of the crocus to attract Europa is explicitly described as very similar
to the story of Persephone in Homeric Hymn ii.
claim_level: same_motif
target: Persephone story in Homeric Hymn ii, lines 8 ff.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: Only the floral attraction element is summarized in the supplied passage.
- id: claim:3
claim: The Poseidon-related sacred custom is cross-referenced to a custom in Homeric
Hymn iii.
claim_level: same_function
target: Custom observed in Homeric Hymn iii, lines 231 ff.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: low
limitations: The actual custom is not described in the supplied passage.
- id: claim:4
claim: The warning that those who try to outwit the oracle will be deceived is cross-referenced
to the Hymn to Hermes.
claim_level: same_function
target: Hymn to Hermes, lines 541 ff.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage summarizes the principle but does not quote or narrate
the referenced Hymn to Hermes episode.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 1705 note within supplied range 9372-9514
quote_or_summary: Bride-price is explained as a price given to a woman's father;
maidens are called earners of oxen in Iliad xviii.593; Glaucus may have raided
cattle.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 1706 note within supplied range 9372-9514
quote_or_summary: Glaucus should father the children of others; the curse of Aphrodite
on the daughters of Tyndareus may be compared.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 1713 note within supplied range 9372-9514
quote_or_summary: Of the three which Aphrodite gave him to enable him to overcome
Atalanta.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; brief public-domain excerpt.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 1716 note within supplied range 9372-9514
quote_or_summary: The daughters of Proetus were sought in marriage by all Greeks;
after offending Dionysus, or Juno in another version, they were diseased and lost
beauty or became cows; Melampus healed them.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 1721 note within supplied range 9372-9514
quote_or_summary: The crocus was to attract Europa, as in a very similar story of
Persephone in Homeric Hymn ii, lines 8 ff.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 1726 note within supplied range 9372-9514
quote_or_summary: A place or object is described as sacred to Poseidon, and a custom
there is compared with Homeric Hymn iii, lines 231 ff.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 1731 note within supplied range 9372-9514
quote_or_summary: The nomad Scythians are described as feeding on mare's milk and
living in caravans.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 1733 note within supplied range 9372-9514
quote_or_summary: Those who seek to outwit the oracle or ask more than they ought
will be deceived by it and led to ruin; the note compares Hymn to Hermes, lines
541 ff.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 1734 note within supplied range 9372-9514
quote_or_summary: Zetes and Calais, sons of Boreas and Argonauts, delivered Phineus
from the Harpies; the Strophades are explained as named because Iris turned them
back from pursuing the Harpies there.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 1736 note within supplied range 9372-9514
quote_or_summary: Three names are glossed as Charming-with-her-voice or Charming-the-mind,
Song, and Lovely-sounding.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized evidence.
confidence:
extraction: medium
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: The supplied passage is an endnote section rather than continuous narrative.
Several mythic patterns are present only in compressed editorial summaries, so
motif assignment is cautious.
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: |-
Only information in the supplied passage and metadata was used. Bibliographic notes without mythic content were not extracted as motifs.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-hesiod-homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-gutenberg__l9372-l9514
passage_sha256=589668fda76215e53101c4e80fd19ee66e665f109a8a133fbd3beeb10a73b8a6