batch.motif.greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg-l14800-l14931
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg-l14800-l14931
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
passage_locator:
label: JUNO DECEIVES JUPITER BY THE GIRDLE OF VENUS. / BOOK XV. / ARGUMENT. / THE
FIFTH BATTLE AT THE SHIPS; AND THE ACTS OF AJAX.; lines 14800-14931
start: '14800'
end: '14931'
translation: The Iliad
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: During the battle at the ships, Greeks and Trojans hold a contested line.
Ajax defends a ship against Hector and kills a fire-bearing attacker. Hector’s
cast kills Lycophron, a companion of Ajax, prompting Ajax to summon Teucer. Teucer
kills Clytus and then aims at Hector, but Jove prevents Hector’s death by breaking
the bowstring. Teucer shifts from archery to heavier arms, and Hector exhorts
the Trojans by interpreting the broken bow as a sign of Jove’s favor.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The Greeks sustain the attack, while the Trojans cannot force a way through
to the fleet and tents.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Ajax and Hector meet at a high ship; Hector seeks to burn the ships, while
Ajax defends the vessel.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: A son of Clytius approaches the deck with a flaming brand and is killed by
Ajax’s lance; the fire is extinguished as he falls.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Hector urges Trojan and Lycian fighters to stand firm and preserve the fallen
son of Clytius’s arms and funeral rites.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: Hector throws at Ajax, but the weapon instead kills Lycophron, an exile and
companion of Ajax.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: Ajax mourns Lycophron and calls Teucer to bring the bow and arrows associated
with Phoebus.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: Teucer shoots Clytus, son of Pisenor, from behind through the neck; Clytus
falls from the chariot, and Polydamas restrains the horses.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: Teucer draws an arrow at Hector, but Jove prevents Hector’s present death;
an unseen arm breaks the bowstring, and the arrow falls harmlessly.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: Teucer tells Ajax that a god has prevented their purpose by striking the bow
and breaking the string.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: Ajax tells Teucer to put aside the bow and arrows and take up shield and lance
because heaven commands it.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: Teucer lays aside the bow and equips a fourfold shield, crested helmet, and
bronze-pointed dart before joining Ajax.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:12
text: Hector tells the Lycians, Dardanians, and Trojans that Jove has struck Teucer’s
bow and that death for one’s country is honorable.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Ajax the great
description: Greek warrior defending a ship against Hector; kills the son of Clytius,
mourns Lycophron, and directs Teucer to change arms.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:10
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Hector
description: Trojan leader contending with Ajax at the ships, casting a javelin
that kills Lycophron, and exhorting Trojan-allied troops after Teucer’s bow is
broken.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:12
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: son of Clytius
description: A fighter who approaches the ship’s deck with a flaming brand and is
killed by Ajax.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Lycophron
description: An exile and faithful servant or companion at Ajax’s side, killed by
Hector’s javelin.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Teucer
description: Archer and brother of Ajax; kills Clytus, aims at Hector, has his bow
broken by divine intervention, and then arms with shield, helm, and dart.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:11
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Clytus, son of Pisenor
description: A charioteer linked with Polydamas, killed by Teucer’s arrow through
the neck.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Polydamas
description: Trojan-associated figure who restrains Clytus’s horses after Clytus
is shot, gives them to Astynous, and rushes back into battle.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Astynous
description: The person to whose care Polydamas gives the restrained horses.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Jove
description: The divine power described as all-wise disposer of human fates, preventing
Hector’s present death and striking Teucer’s bow.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:12
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Greeks
description: Collective army defending the fleet and ships against the Trojan attack.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians
description: Collective attacking forces addressed by Hector and urged to press
the battle at the ships.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:12
roles:
- id: role:1
label: defenders of the ships
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:10
basis: Ajax and the Greeks hold the line and defend the fleet and vessels from attack.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: attackers at the ships
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:7
- fig:11
basis: Hector and allied troops attempt to reach or burn the ships, with the son
of Clytius carrying a flaming brand.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:12
- id: role:3
label: archer
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Teucer brings bow and quiver, shoots Clytus, and aims at Hector before the
bowstring breaks.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:4
label: brother-warrior pair
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:5
basis: Ajax calls Teucer his brother, and Teucer joins him in the fighting after
changing arms.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: role:5
label: battle exhorter
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:11
basis: Hector addresses the Trojan-allied troops, interpreting the divine sign and
urging courage and patriotic death.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: role:6
label: fallen warrior
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
basis: The son of Clytius, Lycophron, and Clytus are each killed in the fighting
described in the passage.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: role:7
label: divine disposer and protector
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Jove is said to prevent Hector’s present death and to strike Teucer’s bow,
a sign interpreted as divine favor for Troy.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:12
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: battle fire
literal_form: flaming brand, extinguished fire, and the navy’s flame
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:12
- id: sym:2
label: broken bow
literal_form: Teucer’s bow and bowstring broken by an unseen arm
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:9
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:12
- id: sym:3
label: ships under assault
literal_form: fleet, tents, proud bark, vessel, navy
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:10
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:12
- id: sym:4
label: warrior arms after failed archery
literal_form: fourfold buckler, crested helmet, bronze-pointed dart, lance, and
shield
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Contested line at the ships
summary: The Greeks hold a defensive line while Trojans attempt but fail to force
a path to the fleet and tents.
figure_refs:
- fig:10
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Ajax and Hector contend at a ship
summary: Ajax and Hector confront one another over a ship; an attacker carrying
fire is killed by Ajax before he can burn it.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Death of Lycophron and Ajax’s appeal to Teucer
summary: Hector’s javelin misses Ajax and kills Lycophron, prompting Ajax to summon
Teucer and ask for bow and arrows.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: Teucer kills Clytus
summary: Teucer shoots Clytus from behind through the neck; the horses run loose
until Polydamas restrains them and gives them to Astynous.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Jove breaks Teucer’s bow
summary: Teucer aims at Hector, but Jove prevents Hector’s death by breaking the
bowstring; Teucer and Ajax recognize divine interference and Teucer changes weapons.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: scene:6
label: Hector interprets the sign
summary: Hector tells the Trojan-allied troops that Jove’s hand is visible in the
broken bow and urges them to seek glory and accept death for their country.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:9
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: divine intervention preserves a destined warrior
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: The narrator states that Jove prevents Hector’s present death by breaking
Teucer’s bowstring, and Hector later interprets this as visible divine favor.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:12
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage frames the event as fate and divine favor in battle; it is
not explicitly a formal judgment scene.
- id: motif:2
label: attack on ships by fire
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The fighting centers on efforts to reach and burn the Greek ships, including
a warrior carrying a flaming brand and Hector’s call to spread glory with the
navy’s flame.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:12
confidence: high
cautions: This is a martial episode rather than a cosmological or ritual fire motif.
- id: motif:3
label: fallen companion provokes revenge
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: After Lycophron, Ajax’s companion, is killed by Hector’s cast, Ajax calls
Teucer to seek revenge on Hector.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives an immediate battlefield response, not an extended revenge
cycle.
- id: motif:4
label: weapon failure as divine sign
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Teucer’s bowstring breaks under an unseen divine action, Teucer says a god
has prevented them, Ajax says heaven commands a change of arms, and Hector treats
the event as a sign of Jove’s support.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:12
confidence: high
cautions: The motif is limited to one battlefield incident in this passage.
- id: motif:5
label: honorable death for one’s country
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Hector exhorts the troops by saying death is common to all and that dying
for one’s country leaves the nation safe, children free, and honor for descendants.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
confidence: high
cautions: This is expressed as a warrior exhortation, not as a ritual sacrifice.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 14802-14813
quote_or_summary: The Greeks sustain a fierce attack, but the Trojans cannot force
a way through to the fleet and tents; the Greek leaders preserve their line like
a shipwright using rule and line.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 14814-14819
quote_or_summary: 'At a high ship, Ajax and Hector contend: one seeks to fire the
ships, while the other defends the vessel.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 14820-14823
quote_or_summary: The son of Clytius approaches the deck carrying a flaming brand,
but Ajax pierces him with a lance; he falls and drops the extinguished fires.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 14824-14830
quote_or_summary: Hector sees the fallen son of Clytius and urges Trojan and Lycian
fighters to hold the space and save the dead man’s arms and obsequies.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 14831-14840
quote_or_summary: Hector’s javelin misses Ajax but kills Lycophron, an exile and
faithful servant at Ajax’s side, who falls from the high poop to the sand.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 14841-14851
quote_or_summary: Ajax grieves for Lycophron, calls Teucer to avenge the death,
and asks for the arrows and bow taught by Phoebus.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 14852-14870
quote_or_summary: Teucer appears with bow and quiver, shoots Clytus son of Pisenor
through the neck, and Clytus falls from the chariot; Polydamas restrains the horses
and entrusts them to Astynous.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 14871-14885
quote_or_summary: Teucer draws at Hector’s breast, but Jove, disposer of the fates,
prevents Hector’s present death; an unseen arm breaks the bowstring and the brazen-headed
shaft falls harmlessly.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: quote
locator: lines 14886-14892
quote_or_summary: "“Some god prevents our destined enterprise” and has struck the
bow and broken the string."
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short quotation.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 14893-14903
quote_or_summary: Ajax answers that, since heaven commands it, Teucer should set
aside bow and arrows and take up the lance and shield in the front ranks.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 14904-14909
quote_or_summary: Teucer lays aside the bow, straps on a fourfold buckler, puts
on a crested horse-hair helm, takes a bronze-pointed dart, and joins Ajax.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: lines 14910-14930
quote_or_summary: Hector calls to the troops of Lycia, Dardanus, and Troy, says
Jove has struck the archer’s bow, contrasts favored and deserted nations, and
declares that dying for one’s country preserves family and honor.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is strongly supported by the supplied passage. Motif labels
are candidate analytic groupings and should be checked against project taxonomy
conventions. No external comparison claims were added.
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 and metadata. Taxonomy references are limited to the available lists; the fire symbol and a cautious divine_judgment motif candidate are the only taxonomy-linked items.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg__l14800-l14931
passage_sha256=cf417681cfd043d9ae19003a83a285d075df0fbd57ebdd3d718858d608de2e7b