batch.motif.greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg-l15508-l15644
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg-l15508-l15644
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
passage_locator:
label: THE FIFTH BATTLE AT THE SHIPS; AND THE ACTS OF AJAX. / BOOK XVI. / ARGUMENT
/ THE SIXTH BATTLE, THE ACTS AND DEATH OF PATROCLUS; lines 15508-15644
start: '15508'
end: '15644'
translation: The Iliad
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Achilles musters the Myrmidons, arranges their leaders, urges them into
battle, and performs a purified libation to Dodonaean Jove, asking that Patroclus
save the ships and return safely. Jove grants the rescue of the fleet but not
Patroclus' safe return.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Achilles moves among the tents and rouses the Myrmidons for bloodshed and
arms.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The Myrmidons are compared to wolves that have drunk blood from a freshly
killed stag and still thirst for more.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Achilles stands in the middle of the troops, directs their order, and commands
the war.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The passage states that Achilles brought fifty vessels to Ilion and that five
chosen leaders command the bands under him.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Menestheus is described as being of celestial birth, connected with the divine
river Sperchius and a mortal mother.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Eudorus is described as the child of Polymele, whom Cellenius loved and pursued
from Diana's choir.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Pisander is singled out for skill with spear and dart, with Patroclus named
as possibly superior.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Achilles reminds the Myrmidons that they had reproached him for keeping them
from battle and now tells them to attack the Trojans.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: The troops press together in close ranks, with shields, helmets, crests, and
plumes crowded together.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: Automedon and Patroclus appear above the rest and are described as brothers
in arms and friends with one soul.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:11
text: Achilles takes a special bowl from a coffer in his tent; only he has used
it for offerings, and only to Jove.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:12
text: Achilles purifies the bowl with sulphur and flame, washes it in running water,
cleanses his hands, and pours a purple draught while praying.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:13
text: Achilles addresses Jove as Pelasgic and Dodonaean, associated with frosts,
vapours, Dodona's hill, the Selli, and rustling oaks.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:14
text: Achilles asks Jove to guard Patroclus, strengthen him in battle, save the
fleet, and return him safely with his companions and arms.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:15
text: Jove grants the part of Achilles' prayer concerning freeing the fleet but
denies the request for Patroclus' safe return.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Achilles
description: Chief of the Myrmidons; he orders the troops, exhorts them, and prays
to Jove for Patroclus.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:6
- ev:9
- ev:11
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Myrmidons
description: Achilles' armed bands, described as fierce and compared to blood-thirsty
wolves.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Menestheus
description: One of the chosen leaders, described as of celestial birth and linked
to Sperchius and a mortal mother.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Sperchius
description: A divine flood or river whose waters wash the earth; named in Menestheus'
ancestry.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Eudorus
description: One of the chosen leaders; child of Polymele and Cellenius, with inherited
swiftness.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Polymele
description: A dancer and mother of Eudorus, loved by Cellenius.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Cellenius
description: A god who loves Polymele and fathers Eudorus in the passage's account.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Pisander
description: A leader noted for skill in casting spear and dart.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Patroclus
description: Achilles' dearest friend, sent to the fighting field; paired with Automedon
and prayed for by Achilles.
role_refs:
- role:9
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Automedon
description: A prominent warrior paired with Patroclus as a brother in arms and
friend.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Jove
description: The supreme god addressed as Pelasgic and Dodonaean; he grants one
part of Achilles' prayer and denies another.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Thetis
description: The silver-footed dame whose gifts are in Achilles' tent and whose
earlier prayer to Jove is remembered by Achilles.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:11
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Hector
description: Trojan opponent whom Achilles wants Patroclus to impress by fighting
without Achilles' direct aid.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: fig:14
name_or_label: Selli
description: Austere attendants or hearers around Dodona, described as unwashing
their feet, sleeping on the ground, and hearing decrees from oaks and breeze.
role_refs:
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
roles:
- id: role:1
label: war commander
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Achilles stands among the troops, directs order, and commands the war.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: armed warrior cohort
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The Myrmidons gather around Achilles as a formidable armed band and press
into ranks.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:7
- id: role:3
label: chosen battlefield leader
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:8
basis: The passage lists chosen leaders of Achilles' bands, including Menestheus,
Eudorus, and Pisander.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:4
label: divine-descended child
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:5
basis: Menestheus and Eudorus are each described through divine and mortal parentage
or ancestry.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: divine parent or ancestor
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:7
basis: Sperchius is invoked in Menestheus' ancestry, and Cellenius is named as Eudorus'
divine father.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:6
label: ritual suppliant
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Achilles purifies a bowl, pours an offering, and implores Jove.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: role:7
label: mortal beloved of a god
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Polymele is loved and pursued by Cellenius and bears Eudorus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:8
label: divine lover
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Cellenius loves and pursues Polymele.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:9
label: brother in arms and friend
assigned_to:
- fig:9
- fig:10
basis: Patroclus and Automedon are described as brothers in arms, two friends, and
two bodies with one soul.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:10
label: beloved comrade sent to battle
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Achilles says he yields the best and dearest of his friends to the fighting
field.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:11
label: petitioned deity and determiner of prayer
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: Achilles prays to Jove, and Jove grants only part of the request.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: role:12
label: divine intercessor remembered in prayer
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: Achilles recalls that Jove previously granted glory at Thetis' prayer.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:13
label: enemy warrior named in prayer
assigned_to:
- fig:13
basis: Achilles asks that Hector see Patroclus' fame in arms is not all owed to
Achilles.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:14
label: austere prophetic attendants
assigned_to:
- fig:14
basis: The Selli surround Dodona's groves and hear decrees from oaks and breeze.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: wolf-thirst image
literal_form: wolves at springs after drinking stag blood, still thirsting for more
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: blood and gore
literal_form: stag blood, gore from jaws, swords to be bathed in gore
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: sym:3
label: water
literal_form: springs, black fount, Sperchius flood, running stream used in purification
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:9
- id: sym:4
label: purified offering bowl
literal_form: antique bowl used only by Achilles for offerings to Jove
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:5
label: fire
literal_form: flame used with sulphur to purify the offering bowl
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:6
label: Dodonaean oaks
literal_form: rustling oaks through which dark decrees and fates are heard
associated_figures:
- fig:11
- fig:14
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:7
label: close-ranked wall
literal_form: soldiers compared to compacted stones in a defensive circling wall
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:8
label: fifty vessels and five leaders
literal_form: fifty vessels with fifty oars and five chosen leaders
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Myrmidon muster with wolf simile
summary: Achilles rouses the Myrmidons, who gather in a terrifying band and are
likened to blood-fed wolves still seeking more.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Ordering of leaders
summary: Achilles arranges the war bands under five chosen leaders, with named leaders
given lineage or martial attributes.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:3
label: Achilles' exhortation
summary: Achilles recalls the Myrmidons' earlier complaints against his wrath and
urges them to fight the Trojans.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: Close-ranked cohort and paired companions
summary: The troops press together like a solid wall, while Automedon and Patroclus
appear prominent and united in friendship.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:9
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:5
label: Achilles' libation to Jove
summary: Achilles retrieves a special bowl, purifies it, washes, pours a draught,
and prays to Dodonaean Jove for Patroclus.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:9
- fig:11
- fig:12
- fig:13
- fig:14
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: scene:6
label: Partial divine answer
summary: Jove grants the rescue of the fleet but denies the requested safe return
of Patroclus.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:9
- fig:11
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: divine parent and mortal child lineage
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_parent_child
basis: Menestheus is linked to a divine river and a mortal mother, and Eudorus is
described as born from Polymele and the god Cellenius.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents genealogy for named leaders, not a full birth narrative
for Menestheus or Eudorus.
- id: motif:2
label: god's beloved mortal woman
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_beloved
basis: Cellenius loves and pursues Polymele, who later bears Eudorus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The account is brief and embedded in a martial catalogue.
- id: motif:3
label: purified offering and prayer before battle
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
basis: Achilles purifies a dedicated bowl, washes, pours a draught, and implores
Jove for protection and victory-related outcomes.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: The action is a libation rather than an animal sacrifice.
- id: motif:4
label: partial divine granting of a hero's prayer
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Jove consents to one part of Achilles' request while eternal doom denies
the safe return of Patroclus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy label is approximate; the passage describes divine response
and fate rather than formal judgment.
- id: motif:5
label: comrades as one soul
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Automedon and Patroclus are described as brothers in arms, friends, and two
bodies with one soul.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: This is a relationship image rather than a named taxonomy motif in the
supplied list.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 15508-15521
quote_or_summary: Achilles rouses the Myrmidons; they are described as a grim band
and compared to wolves at springs after gorging on a stag's blood.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 15522-15529
quote_or_summary: Achilles stands in the middle, orders the war, and is said to
have brought fifty vessels with fifty oars and five chosen leaders.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 15530-15536
quote_or_summary: Menestheus is introduced first and described as of celestial birth,
connected with divine Sperchius and a mortal mother, though fame calls him Borus'
son.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 15537-15550
quote_or_summary: Eudorus is born of Polymele; Cellenius loves and pursues her from
Diana's choir, and Eudorus' heavenly paternal race is acknowledged.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 15551-15556
quote_or_summary: Pisander is noted for skill with spear and distant dart, while
Patroclus is mentioned as possibly surer.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 15557-15575
quote_or_summary: Achilles reminds the Myrmidons of their reproaches against his
wrath and urges them to attack the Trojans and satisfy their desire for battle.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 15576-15588
quote_or_summary: The cohorts press closer around Achilles, compared to a builder's
compacted defensive wall; helmets, crests, shields, and plumes crowd together.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:8
type: quote
locator: lines 15589-15592
quote_or_summary: '"Two friends, two bodies with one soul inspired."'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation used.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 15593-15610
quote_or_summary: Achilles takes a dedicated bowl from his tent, purifies it with
sulphur and flame, washes it in running water, cleanses his hands, and pours a
draught.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 15611-15621
quote_or_summary: Achilles invokes supreme Pelasgic, Dodonaean Jove, associated
with Dodona's cold hill, the Selli, rustling oaks, and whispered fates in the
breeze.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 15622-15638
quote_or_summary: Achilles recalls Jove's earlier favor at Thetis' prayer and asks
that Patroclus be guarded, strengthen his arm, save the fleet, impress Hector,
and return safely with arms and companions.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: lines 15639-15644
quote_or_summary: Jove grants the freeing of the fleet but denies Patroclus' safe
return; Achilles returns to his tent and waits for combat.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied passage. Motif assignments use the
provided taxonomy where directly supported; no external comparative claims are
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: |-
Illustration caption text was not treated as a narrative scene except where Diana is named in the passage as part of Polymele's context.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg__l15508-l15644
passage_sha256=5068bda50dd6847ab578e07d4f5e9e1f4b75b52bda3006e8ca4b4c2dfc7a46a6