batch.motif.greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg-l10446-l10587
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg-l10446-l10587
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
passage_locator:
label: THE EMBASSY TO ACHILLES. / BOOK X. / ARGUMENT. / THE NIGHT-ADVENTURE OF DIOMED
AND ULYSSES.; lines 10446-10587
start: '10446'
end: '10587'
translation: The Iliad
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Dolon, captured by Ulysses and Diomedes, confesses that Hector sent him
to spy on the Achaean camp and reveals Trojan and allied dispositions, including
the location and treasures of Rhesus and the Thracians. Diomedes executes Dolon,
and Ulysses dedicates the captured gear to Pallas before marking the place. The
two heroes enter the Thracian camp at night, where Diomedes slays sleeping warriors
and Rhesus while Ulysses secures the white horses. Minerva/Pallas empowers Diomedes,
sends a death-dream to Rhesus, and appears as Diomedes hesitates over further
action.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Dolon says Hector's promises, including Achilles' car and horses, led him
to spy on the Achaeans.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Ulysses questions Dolon about Hector's location, the Trojan horses, the sleeping
places of princes, the watch, and Trojan plans.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Dolon says Hector holds council at Ilus' monument and that the Trojans keep
watch near their fires while auxiliary forces sleep.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Dolon lists several allied contingents and identifies the Thracians as apart
from the others, newly arrived under Rhesus.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: Dolon describes Rhesus' horses as swift and white, his chariot as silver-plated,
and his arms as golden and godlike.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Dolon asks to be carried to the fleet or kept captive until his information
can be verified.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Diomedes states that Dolon will not be allowed to live, lest he spy or fight
again.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Diomedes kills Dolon by cutting his neck, and Ulysses and Diomedes remove
Dolon's helmet, wolf-hide, bow, and spear.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: Ulysses lifts the captured spoils to the sky and dedicates them to Pallas,
asking for success with the Thracian steeds and guidance.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: Ulysses places the bloody spoils high on a tamarisk and heaps reeds and boughs
as a guide-marker for their return.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: Ulysses and Diomedes cross the night fields to the sleeping Thracian camp,
where horses stand beside warriors and Rhesus lies near his chariot and white
steeds.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:12
text: Ulysses points out Rhesus, the horses, the car, and the golden arms to Diomedes
and proposes that one seize the steeds while the other slaughters.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:13
text: Pallas strengthens Diomedes, and he kills twelve Thracians while Ulysses drags
bodies aside to clear a path for the horses.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:14
text: Diomedes kills Rhesus, and Minerva sends Rhesus a deathful dream in which
a warlike form wounds him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:15
text: Ulysses leads the white horses away by silver reins, while Diomedes hesitates
over further killing or carrying off Rhesus' chariot and armor; Pallas then appears.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Dolon
description: A Trojan spy captured by Ulysses and Diomedes; he speaks fearfully,
reveals enemy information, begs for captivity, and is killed.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Ulysses
description: Achaean hero who questions Dolon, dedicates captured spoils to Pallas,
marks the return point, identifies Rhesus' prize, and leads away the horses.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:12
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Diomedes / Tydides / son of Tydeus
description: Achaean warrior who refuses to spare Dolon, kills him, slaughters Thracians,
kills Rhesus, and is strengthened and commanded by Pallas.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Hector
description: Trojan chief who, according to Dolon, promised rewards and held council
at Ilus' monument.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Rhesus
description: Leader of the newly arrived Thracians, son of Eioneus; he possesses
white horses, a silver-plated car, golden arms, sleeps in the camp, receives a
deathful dream, and is slain.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:8
- ev:11
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Pallas / Minerva
description: Goddess invoked by Ulysses, who strengthens Diomedes, sends Rhesus
a deathful dream, and appears to command Diomedes.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Thracian band
description: Allied warriors encamped apart from the other Trojan allies; they sleep
in three lines with horses and arms arranged beside them and are killed in the
night raid.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Trojan and allied forces
description: Forces whose camps, watches, and locations are described by Dolon,
including Trojans, Paeons, Carians, Caucons, Pelasgians, Leleges, Lycians, Mysians,
Monians, Phrygians, and Thracians.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
roles:
- id: role:1
label: captured spy-informant
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Dolon says he came to learn Achaean plans and then discloses Trojan dispositions
after capture.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:2
label: interrogator and stratagem-leader
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Ulysses questions Dolon, identifies the prize, dedicates spoils, marks the
route, and manages the horses' removal.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:12
- id: role:3
label: executioner and night-raider
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Diomedes kills Dolon, slaughters sleeping Thracians, and kills Rhesus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: role:4
label: enemy commander
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Dolon reports Hector's promises and council among Trojan peers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: enemy target or victim
assigned_to:
- fig:5
- fig:7
- fig:8
basis: The disclosed enemy forces and Rhesus' camp become the target of the nocturnal
raid.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: role:6
label: horse-seizer
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
basis: Ulysses and Diomedes plan the seizure of Rhesus' horses, and Ulysses leads
them away.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:12
- id: role:7
label: doomed supplicant
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Dolon asks to be spared as a captive, but Diomedes rejects mercy and kills
him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:8
label: divine patron and sender of dream
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Pallas receives the dedication, empowers Diomedes, sends a dream to Rhesus,
and appears to command Diomedes.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: watch fires
literal_form: fires ascending where Trojans keep watch
associated_figures:
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:2
label: Achilles' car and horses
literal_form: promised car and swift steeds of Achilles
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: Rhesus' white horses
literal_form: swift white horses, later led away by silver reins
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:12
- id: sym:4
label: golden arms and silver car of Rhesus
literal_form: silver-plated chariot and golden arms described as celestial panoply
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:9
- ev:12
- id: sym:5
label: Dolon spoils
literal_form: furry helmet, wolf's grey hide, unbended bow, and spear taken from
Dolon
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:6
label: tamarisk marker
literal_form: spreading tamarisk with bloody spoils, reeds, and gathered boughs
marking the place
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:7
label: deathful dream
literal_form: dream sent by Minerva in which a warlike form wounds Rhesus
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: sym:8
label: night field of arms and blood
literal_form: still night, devious fields slippery with blood, arms and heaps of
shields
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Dolon interrogated
summary: Dolon explains his mission and Ulysses questions him about Trojan leadership,
watches, and plans.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:2
label: Enemy dispositions and Rhesus' prize revealed
summary: Dolon lists the positions of Trojan allies and describes Rhesus, his horses,
chariot, and arms before begging to be spared.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Dolon executed and spoils dedicated
summary: Diomedes kills Dolon, the heroes strip his gear, and Ulysses dedicates
the spoils to Pallas before marking the place on a tamarisk.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:4
label: Approach to the sleeping Thracian camp
summary: The heroes cross the bloody night field and observe the sleeping Thracians
arranged with horses, arms, Rhesus, and the white steeds.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: scene:5
label: Slaughter and seizure of the horses
summary: Pallas strengthens Diomedes, who kills twelve Thracians and Rhesus, while
Ulysses clears the way and leads away the white horses.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: scene:6
label: Diomedes checked by Pallas
summary: After the horse seizure, Diomedes considers further killing or taking Rhesus'
chariot and armor, and Pallas appears to command him.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: captured spy discloses enemy camp before death
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Dolon, captured on a spying mission, reveals the enemy council, watches,
allied positions, and Rhesus' camp, but Diomedes refuses to spare him and kills
him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents this as wartime interrogation and execution, not
as a ritual or legal ordeal.
- id: motif:2
label: nocturnal raid on sleeping enemies
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Ulysses and Diomedes cross the night field into the Thracian camp while the
warriors sleep, and Diomedes kills sleeping Thracians and Rhesus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: This is a military raid in epic narrative; broader comparative classification
would require external parallels.
- id: motif:3
label: prized horses stolen from enemy camp
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_theft
basis: Dolon reveals Rhesus' exceptional white horses, Ulysses urges their seizure,
and Ulysses leads them away by silver reins after the slaughter.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:9
- ev:12
confidence: medium
cautions: The horses are extraordinary and associated with a heroic raid, but the
passage frames the act as wartime seizure rather than explicitly sacred theft.
- id: motif:4
label: offering of enemy spoils to a divine patron for aid
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: Ulysses dedicates Dolon's captured gear to Pallas and asks that the Thracian
steeds reward their toil and that she direct their way.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The exchange is a battlefield dedication and prayer; the passage does
not describe a formal sacrificial rite.
- id: motif:5
label: divine empowerment of a warrior in battle
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Pallas warms Diomedes' bosom, breathes into his heart, and strengthens his
arms before the Thracian slaughter.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: No available taxonomy reference directly names this motif.
- id: motif:6
label: death dream sent to doomed sleeper
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Minerva sends Rhesus a deathful dream in which a warlike form appears to
wound him as Diomedes kills him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: The dream is tightly linked to the killing; the passage does not expand
its omen or prophecy function beyond the immediate death.
- id: motif:7
label: cunning guidance in a boundary-crossing raid
taxonomy_refs:
- trickster_boundary
- wisdom
basis: Ulysses extracts intelligence, marks the return point, identifies the prize,
clears bodies from the horses' path, and conducts the seizure during a night infiltration.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:12
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy fit is interpretive; the passage emphasizes practical stratagem
rather than explicitly naming trickster identity or wisdom doctrine.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 10446-10456
quote_or_summary: Dolon says Hector deceived him with promises, including Achilles'
car and horses, and sent him to learn Achaean plans and watchfulness.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 10457-10470
quote_or_summary: Ulysses scorns Dolon's desire for Achilles' horses and asks where
Hector, his horses, the princes, the watches, and Trojan plans are.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 10471-10480
quote_or_summary: Dolon says Hector holds council at Ilus' monument, Trojans watch
near the fires, and auxiliary forces sleep because their families are far from
danger.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 10481-10505
quote_or_summary: Dolon locates the allied contingents, says the Thracians are apart
and newly arrived under Rhesus, describes Rhesus' white horses, silver car, golden
arms, and asks to be spared as captive.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 10506-10513
quote_or_summary: Diomedes says Dolon will not live even though he has told the
truth, because he might later spy or fight again.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 10514-10521
quote_or_summary: As Dolon reaches toward Diomedes' beard, Diomedes cuts through
his neck; the heroes take his helmet, wolf-hide, bow, and spear.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 10522-10532
quote_or_summary: Ulysses dedicates the hostile spoils to Pallas, prays for success
and guidance, places the bloody gear on a tamarisk, and marks the place with reeds
and boughs.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 10533-10543
quote_or_summary: The heroes cross the still night through bloody fields to the
Thracian camp, where warriors sleep in three lines with horses, arms, Rhesus,
and the white steeds near the chariot.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 10544-10552
quote_or_summary: Ulysses points out Rhesus, the horses, the car, and the golden
arms, and urges Diomedes either to seize the steeds or conduct the slaughter while
he seizes them.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 10553-10570
quote_or_summary: Pallas strengthens Diomedes; he kills twelve Thracians, while
Ulysses drags bodies away by the feet to clear a safe path for the horses.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 10571-10577
quote_or_summary: Diomedes kills Rhesus; Minerva sends a deathful dream in which
a warlike form appears before Rhesus and wounds him, and he never wakes.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: lines 10578-10587
quote_or_summary: Ulysses leads the snowy horses by silver reins, signals retreat,
but Diomedes considers further killing or taking Rhesus' car and armor until Pallas
appears to command him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is strong for the supplied passage. Motif labels involving
taxonomy references, especially sacred_theft and trickster_boundary, are interpretive
and require review. 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: |-
All evidence is drawn only from the supplied passage and metadata; quotations were avoided in favor of concise summaries.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg__l10446-l10587
passage_sha256=2ebc8e9becf30c715a7d90d212cd7f179314ed2b7d3b66d70535e14faa2427cc