batch.motif.greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg-l15646-l15779
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg-l15646-l15779
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 15646-15779
start: '15646'
end: '15779'
translation: The Iliad
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Patroclus rallies the warriors associated with Achilles, leads them from
the tents to the burning ships, and the sight of Achilles' armor makes the Trojans
think Achilles is near. Patroclus kills Pyrechmes and drives the Trojans from
the half-burned ship. The Greeks press the attack and kill many Trojan or allied
warriors. Ajax continues to aim at Hector, while Hector protects himself with
his shield and works to save his allies despite Greek momentum.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Troops under Patroclus move against the Trojans and are compared to wasps
defending their homes and young.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Patroclus exhorts Achilles' warriors to remember their former deeds, honor
Achilles, and humble the monarch they are saving.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The warriors respond joyfully and go toward the fleet amid fire and smoke.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Achilles' shining armor appears, and the Trojans think Achilles is close,
tremble, and flee.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: Patroclus throws his spear near the stern of Protesilaus' ship and kills Pyrechmes
by wounding his shoulder-blade.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: Patroclus prevents the spreading fires and the Trojans withdraw from the half-burned
ship.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: The cleared Greek ships are described through a simile of clouds broken by
the Thunderer's ray, revealing hills, rocks, streams, vales, and forests.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: The Greeks, led foremost by Patroclus, kill multiple hostile warriors after
Troy is driven from the ships.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: A pair of Nestor's sons and a pair of Lycian brothers fight; Antilochus kills
Atymnius, Maris defends his brother's corpse, and Thrasimed cuts down Maris.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: The slain Lycian brothers are identified as Sarpedon's friends and sons of
Amisodarus, who bred the Chimaera.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: Cleobulus is first taken alive by Oleus but is then killed by the sword.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:12
text: Lycon and Peneleus exchange failed javelin attacks, draw swords, and Peneleus
kills Lycon by striking the neck and head.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: obs:13
text: Merion kills Neamas as he mounts his horses, and Erymas is killed by Cretan
steel through the mouth.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- ev:14
- id: obs:14
text: The Greek assault is compared to wolves attacking unattended flocks or young
animals.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:15
- id: obs:15
text: Ajax keeps aiming at Hector, while Hector uses his shield to catch the Greek
darts and remains to save his allies.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:16
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Patroclus
description: Leader of the troops beneath his care; speaker who rallies Achilles'
warriors; foremost Greek fighter who drives Trojans from the ships and kills Pyrechmes.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Achilles
description: Absent master whose praise and name Patroclus urges the warriors to
uphold; his shining armor causes Troy to think he is near.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Warriors or troops under Patroclus / partners of Achilles
description: Greek fighters who swarm from the tents, hear Patroclus' exhortation,
and move toward the fleet.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Trojans / Troy
description: Opposing force that attacks the ships, trembles at the sight of Achilles'
armor, is driven from the half-burned ship, and later flees under Greek assault.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:15
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Pyrechmes
description: Paeonian leader from the Axius who stands near Protesilaus' ship and
is killed by Patroclus' spear.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Protesilaus
description: Named in connection with the ship that had borne him to Ilion's shore.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Areilycus
description: Warrior struck in the thigh by a spear when he turns around.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Thoas
description: Warrior whose unarmed breast receives a Spartan lance.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Amphidus
description: Warrior whose thigh is transpierced by Phylides' dart, leaving him
in darkness and death.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Antilochus
description: One of Nestor's sons who kills Atymnius.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Thrasimed
description: One of Nestor's sons who prevents Maris' attack and cuts him down.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Atymnius
description: Lycian brother killed by Antilochus.
role_refs:
- role:6
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Maris
description: Lycian brother who defends Atymnius' corpse and is killed by Thrasimed.
role_refs:
- role:6
- role:7
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:14
name_or_label: Sarpedon
description: Named as the friend of the slain brothers Atymnius and Maris.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:15
name_or_label: Amisodarus
description: Father of the slain brothers; described as breeder of the Chimaera.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:16
name_or_label: Chimaera
description: A destructive being called the bane of men and bred by Amisodarus.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:17
name_or_label: Cleobulus
description: Taken alive beneath Oleus' arm, then killed by a sword.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: fig:18
name_or_label: Oleus
description: Captures Cleobulus alive and then kills him.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: fig:19
name_or_label: Lycon
description: Fights Peneleus with javelin and sword; his sword breaks and he is
killed.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: fig:20
name_or_label: Peneleus
description: Fights Lycon and kills him with a sword stroke at the neck and head.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: fig:21
name_or_label: Neamas
description: Killed by Merion while mounting his horses.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: fig:22
name_or_label: Merion
description: Kills Neamas as he mounts his steeds.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: fig:23
name_or_label: Erymas
description: Killed by Cretan steel through the mouth.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
- id: fig:24
name_or_label: Ajax
description: Continues aiming his javelin at Hector.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:16
- id: fig:25
name_or_label: Hector
description: Trojan chief who shields himself from Greek darts and remains to save
his allies.
role_refs:
- role:10
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:16
- id: fig:26
name_or_label: The Thunderer
description: Divine figure in a simile whose flashing ray breaks cloud-darkness
and reveals the landscape.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
roles:
- id: role:1
label: exhorting leader
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Patroclus addresses the warriors and inflames them to fight.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: absent master whose presence is evoked
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Patroclus tells the warriors to act as if Achilles sees them, and Achilles'
armor makes Troy think he is near.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: rallied defenders at the ships
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The warriors hear Patroclus and fly to the fleet amid fire and smoke.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: attacking and retreating enemy force
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The Trojans are at the burning ships but flee when they think Achilles is
near and later withdraw from the half-burned ship.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: role:5
label: slayer in battle
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:18
- fig:20
- fig:22
- fig:24
basis: These figures are described killing, attacking, or aiming at enemy warriors
in the battle sequence.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:9
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
- ev:16
- id: role:6
label: battle victim
assigned_to:
- fig:5
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:12
- fig:13
- fig:17
- fig:19
- fig:21
- fig:23
basis: These warriors are described as wounded, killed, or falling in battle.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
- ev:14
- id: role:7
label: slain brothers
assigned_to:
- fig:12
- fig:13
basis: Atymnius and Maris are the Lycian brothers who both die in the encounter
with Nestor's sons.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: role:8
label: corpse defender
assigned_to:
- fig:13
basis: Maris defends the breathless body of his brother before being killed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:9
label: breeder of destructive monster
assigned_to:
- fig:15
basis: Amisodarus is said to have bred the Chimaera, called the bane of men.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:10
label: shielded target
assigned_to:
- fig:25
basis: Hector is the target of Ajax's javelin and catches the Greek darts on his
shield.
evidence_refs:
- ev:16
- id: role:11
label: leader preserving allies
assigned_to:
- fig:25
basis: Hector sees Greek advantage but stops, turns, and saves his loved allies.
evidence_refs:
- ev:16
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: burning fleet
literal_form: ships involved in fire and smoke; half-burned ship
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: sym:2
label: Achilles' shining armor
literal_form: great Achilles' shining armour blazing before Troy
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: defensive swarm
literal_form: wasps pouring from their homes to defend waxen domes and progeny
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:4
label: ships or fleet
literal_form: hollow ships, fleet, rescued decks, and navy
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: sym:5
label: clouds over mountain and revealed landscape
literal_form: clouds around a mountain head broken by the Thunderer's flashing ray,
revealing hills, rocks, streams, vales, and forests
associated_figures:
- fig:26
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:6
label: wolf attack simile
literal_form: wolves rending unattended kids or lambs scattered on the plain
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:15
- id: sym:7
label: Hector's shield
literal_form: broad massy shield and buckler catching a shower of darts
associated_figures:
- fig:25
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:16
- id: sym:8
label: Chimaera
literal_form: abhorr'd Chimaera, called the bane of men
associated_figures:
- fig:15
- fig:16
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Patroclus rallies Achilles' warriors
summary: Patroclus leads the troops out from the tents and urges them to honor Achilles
through brave action.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Armor mistaken for Achilles and the ships relieved
summary: The warriors move to the fleet; Achilles' armor blazes, the Trojans think
Achilles is present and flee, and Patroclus kills Pyrechmes and checks the fire
at the ship.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:3
label: Cleared navy compared to daylight after storm-clouds
summary: The cleared ships and renewed Greek visibility are described through a
simile of the Thunderer breaking cloud-darkness over a mountain landscape.
figure_refs:
- fig:26
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:4
label: Greek counterattack and individual killings
summary: The Greeks press forward from the ships, and several named Trojan or allied
warriors are wounded or killed in succession.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:5
label: Two brother-pairs in combat
summary: Nestor's sons Antilochus and Thrasimed kill the Lycian brothers Atymnius
and Maris; Maris dies while defending his brother's corpse.
figure_refs:
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:12
- fig:13
- fig:14
- fig:15
- fig:16
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: scene:6
label: Further single combats
summary: Cleobulus, Lycon, Neamas, and Erymas are killed in a series of close battle
episodes.
figure_refs:
- fig:17
- fig:18
- fig:19
- fig:20
- fig:21
- fig:22
- fig:23
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
- ev:14
- id: scene:7
label: Greek assault and Hector's resistance
summary: The Greeks are compared to wolves attacking unattended flocks; Ajax keeps
attacking Hector, while Hector shields himself and works to save his allies.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:24
- fig:25
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:15
- ev:16
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: warrior leads counterattack to save burning ships
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Patroclus rallies the warriors, they move to the fleet amid fire and smoke,
and he drives Troy from the half-burned ship.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: This is a local battle motif rather than one of the supplied broad motif
families.
- id: motif:2
label: mistaken return or presence through another's armor
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Achilles' armor blazes, and Troy thinks Achilles is near, trembles, and flees.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not explicitly state here that Patroclus is wearing the
armor; it only reports the effect of Achilles' armor.
- id: motif:3
label: heroic exhortation in the name of an absent superior
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Patroclus tells Achilles' warriors to remember their deeds, make their master
known through action, and fight as if Achilles sees them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: No wider comparative claim is made from this passage alone.
- id: motif:4
label: defense of a fallen brother's body
taxonomy_refs:
- sibling_pair
basis: Maris defends his dead brother Atymnius before being killed by Thrasimed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The available taxonomy ref 'sibling_pair' fits the brother-pair relationship,
but the immediate motif is a battlefield corpse-defense episode.
- id: motif:5
label: single-combat death catalogue
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage lists successive named warriors wounded or killed by named opponents
during the Greek counterattack.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
- ev:14
confidence: high
cautions: This is a formal narrative pattern within battle poetry, not a claim of
mythic distribution.
- id: motif:6
label: leader shielding himself while saving allies
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Hector catches the Greek darts on his shield and remains to save his allies
despite the rising Greek advantage.
evidence_refs:
- ev:16
confidence: high
cautions: The passage supports the battlefield role but not a broader taxonomy assignment.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 15646-15657
quote_or_summary: Troops under Patroclus attack the Trojans and are compared to
provoked wasps swarming from their homes to defend their domes and young.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 15658-15665
quote_or_summary: Patroclus addresses Achilles' warriors, urging them to remember
old deeds, proclaim Achilles' greatness, and fight bravely as if Achilles sees
them.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 15666-15669
quote_or_summary: The warriors hear joyfully and go to the fleet, which is involved
in fire and smoke; shouts resound between shore and ships.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 15670-15673
quote_or_summary: Achilles' shining armor blazes; Troy thinks Achilles is near,
trembles, and flees.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 15674-15683
quote_or_summary: Patroclus throws his spear near Protesilaus' ship and kills Pyrechmes,
Paeonian leader from the Axius, by wounding his shoulder-blade.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 15684-15689
quote_or_summary: Pyrechmes' troops scatter; Patroclus stops the spreading fires,
Troy retreats from the half-burned ship, and Greece returns to the rescued decks.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 15690-15699
quote_or_summary: A simile compares the cleared scene to the Thunderer breaking
dark clouds over a mountain with a flashing ray, revealing landscape and light.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 15700-15715
quote_or_summary: After Troy is repulsed, Patroclus is foremost; Areilycus, Thoas,
and Amphidus are wounded or killed in the continuing Greek attack.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 15716-15728
quote_or_summary: Antilochus kills Atymnius; Maris defends his brother's body and
attacks, but Thrasimed cuts him down.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: 15729-15734
quote_or_summary: The slain brothers are named as friends of Sarpedon and sons of
Amisodarus, who bred the man-destroying Chimaera.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: 15735-15741
quote_or_summary: Cleobulus lies as a living prize beneath Oleus' arm but is soon
killed by a sword in the throat.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: 15742-15752
quote_or_summary: Lycon and Peneleus fight with javelins and swords; Lycon's sword
breaks, and Peneleus strikes between neck and head, killing him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:13
type: summary
locator: 15753-15756
quote_or_summary: Merion overtakes Neamas and wounds him through the shoulder as
he mounts his horses; Neamas falls from the chariot.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:14
type: summary
locator: 15757-15763
quote_or_summary: Erymas receives Cretan steel in his open mouth; the blow passes
beneath the brain and he dies in blood.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:15
type: summary
locator: 15764-15771
quote_or_summary: The Greek attack is compared to wolves rending unattended flocks,
kids, or lambs; Troy flees, forgetting former fame.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:16
type: summary
locator: 15772-15779
quote_or_summary: Ajax keeps aiming at Hector; Hector spreads his shield, catches
Greek darts on his buckler, sees the Greek advantage, but remains and saves his
allies.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Literal extraction is well supported by the supplied passage. Motif labels
are candidate narrative-pattern labels and mostly lack supplied taxonomy equivalents.
No external comparison claims were added because the passage itself does not support
historical or cross-traditional comparison.
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 refs were applied only where directly supportable by literal passage features.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg__l15646-l15779
passage_sha256=469a1b45cf0a814c02b52cb276de7261231a843a5ebe64429ce54b4539f2241e