batch.motif.greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg-l20969-l21070
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg-l20969-l21070
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
passage_locator:
label: ARGUMENT. / THE DEATH OF HECTOR. / BOOK XXIII. / ARGUMENT.; lines 20969-21070
start: '20969'
end: '21070'
translation: The Iliad
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: 'The passage introduces Book XXIII and summarizes the funeral rites for
Patroclus: Achilles and the Myrmidons honor the body, Patroclus'' ghost demands
burial, wood is gathered, hair and sacrifices are offered, the pyre is burned,
bones are collected, a tomb is raised, and funeral games are instituted. The verse
section then depicts Achilles leading mourning rites, addressing Patroclus, casting
Hector''s body before the bier, refusing purification until the pyre and mound
are prepared, and directing that timber be cut for the funeral pile.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The argument states that Achilles and the Myrmidons perform honors for Patroclus'
body, and that Patroclus' ghost appears to Achilles and asks for burial rites.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The argument lists ritual actions including fetching wood for a pyre, a funeral
procession, offering hair to the dead, sacrificing animals and twelve Trojan captives,
setting the pyre on fire, libations to the Winds, gathering bones into a gold
urn, raising a tomb, and holding funeral games.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The scene is stated to be generally on the sea-shore, and the verse places
a bloodied body on the Hellespont shore.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Achilles tells the Myrmidons not to release their horses yet, but to lead
their chariots in order and perform honors for dead Patroclus before rest or food.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The troops circle the dead three times with their horses, renew laments, and
weep; Thetis is said to aid their grief.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: Achilles addresses Patroclus as an honored ghost on Pluto's coast and says
his promise is complete because Hector lies before Patroclus' feet.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: Achilles says he will give Hector's body to dogs and that twelve Trojan victims
will die around Patroclus' funeral pyre.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: Achilles throws bleeding Hector before the bier, prone in the dust.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: During the feast, swine, an ox, a goat, and sheep are slaughtered, and blood
flows around the prostrate body of the hero.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:10
text: Heralds urge Achilles to cleanse hostile blood from his hands, but he refuses
until he places Patroclus on the pyre, raises the mound, and clips his sacred
hair.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:11
text: Achilles asks the king of men to have Greece prepare the funeral pile and
fell forests, after which Patroclus' earthly part will mount in fire.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Achilles / Pelides
description: Leader of the Myrmidons, mourner for Patroclus, speaker who directs
the rites and refuses purification before completing them.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Patroclus
description: Dead friend of Achilles whose body and ghost receive funeral honors
and for whom the pyre, mound, offerings, and games are prepared.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Myrmidons / Myrmidonian band
description: Achilles' companions who remain assembled, lead horses around the dead,
lament, and participate in honors for Patroclus.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Thetis
description: Divine figure said to aid the mourners' woe and cause tears to flow.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Hector
description: Slain Trojan hero whose bloodied body is placed before Patroclus' bier
and named as destined for dogs.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Twelve Trojan captives
description: Twelve victims of the Trojan line whom Achilles says will die around
Patroclus' funeral pyre.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Grecians / Greek soldiers
description: Group named in the argument and verse as participants in the funeral
preparations, including ships, wood-gathering, and preparation of the pile.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:10
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: King of men / king of kings
description: Royal figure addressed by Achilles and asked to oversee preparation
of the funeral pile.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Heralds
description: Attendants who bring kindled flames to the tripod-vase and urge Achilles
to cleanse his hands.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
roles:
- id: role:1
label: mourning ritual leader
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Achilles commands the chariot rite, speaks to Patroclus, vows further offerings,
and directs preparation of the pyre and mound.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: role:2
label: bereaved friend
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage emphasizes Achilles' sighs, tears, unwilling departure from the
dead friend, and refusal to cleanse before rites are complete.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:9
- id: role:3
label: honored dead
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Patroclus is the dead figure around whom the honors, pyre, ghost speech,
mound, and games are organized.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:10
- id: role:4
label: funeral participants and mourners
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:7
basis: The Myrmidons and Greeks are described as performing honors, mourning, and
preparing funeral materials.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:10
- id: role:5
label: divine aid to mourning
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Thetis is said to aid the warriors' woe and make their eyes flow with tears.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:6
label: enemy corpse and object of vengeance
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Hector's body is placed before Patroclus, threatened with dogs, and thrown
before the bier.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:7
label: promised human victims
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Achilles says twelve Trojan victims will die around the funeral pyre, and
the argument also lists twelve Trojan captives as sacrificed at the pile.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: role:8
label: royal organizer of funeral labor
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Achilles asks the king of men to command Greece to prepare the funeral pile
and fell forests.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:9
label: purification attendants
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Heralds bring flame to the tripod-vase and urge Achilles to cleanse hostile
blood from his hands.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: funeral pyre and fire
literal_form: Pyre, pile, flames, and fire used for Patroclus' cremation.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- ev:10
- id: sym:2
label: sacred hair offering
literal_form: Hair offered to the dead and Achilles' vow to clip his sacred hair.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:9
- id: sym:3
label: gold urn
literal_form: Urn of gold for gathering Patroclus' bones after the pyre burns.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:4
label: tomb or grassy mound
literal_form: Tomb raised after cremation; Achilles also says he will rear the grassy
mound.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:9
- id: sym:5
label: blood and gore
literal_form: Blood on Achilles' hands, blood flowing around the body, and Hector's
bleeding corpse.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: sym:6
label: sea-shore and Hellespont shore
literal_form: The sea-shore setting and broad Hellespont shore.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:5
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: sym:7
label: chariot circuit around the dead
literal_form: Chariots and horses led three times around the dead body.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:8
label: tripod-vase for cleansing
literal_form: A tripod-vase surrounded by kindled flames for washing Achilles' bloodied
hands.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Argument summary of Patroclus' funeral sequence
summary: The book's argument outlines the ghost's request for burial, gathering
of wood, offerings of hair, sacrifices, pyre burning, bone collection, tomb raising,
and funeral games.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Mourning circuit on the shore
summary: Achilles keeps the Myrmidons assembled, orders chariot honors before rest,
and the troops circle the dead three times while lamenting.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:3
label: Achilles addresses Patroclus and displays Hector
summary: Achilles speaks to Patroclus' ghost, claims that Hector lies before him,
promises the death of twelve Trojan victims, and throws Hector before the bier.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:4
label: Feast and slaughtered animals
summary: At Achilles' ship, feast animals are killed, and blood flows around the
hero's prostrate body.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:5
label: Refusal of cleansing and command to prepare the pyre
summary: Heralds urge Achilles to wash hostile blood from his hands, but he swears
not to cleanse until Patroclus is placed on the pyre, the mound is raised, and
his hair is cut; he then asks the king of men to order preparation of the funeral
pile.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:4
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: funeral rites for a slain companion
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage centers on honors to Patroclus' body, a ghost demanding burial,
pyre preparation, cremation, bone collection, tomb raising, and funeral games.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: This is a passage-level motif description rather than a supplied taxonomy
family.
- id: motif:2
label: sacrifice at a funeral pyre
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
basis: The argument states that animals and twelve Trojan captives are sacrificed
at the pile; Achilles also says twelve Trojan victims will die around Patroclus'
pyre.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The verse section in this excerpt includes the promise and animal slaughter;
the actual sacrifice of the twelve captives is summarized in the argument.
- id: motif:3
label: unburied ghost requesting burial rites
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The argument states that Patroclus' ghost appears to Achilles and demands
burial rites; Achilles later addresses Patroclus as an honored ghost on Pluto's
coast.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The ghost's appearance is in the prose argument for the book, not in the
verse portion included here.
- id: motif:4
label: mourning procession or circular rite around the dead
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Achilles orders chariot honors for Patroclus, and the troops lead their horses
three times around the dead while lamenting.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: No taxonomy reference supplied directly matches this rite.
- id: motif:5
label: delayed purification until funeral duty is complete
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Achilles refuses to wash blood from his hands until he has placed Patroclus
on the pyre, raised the mound, and cut his hair.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: This is inferred as a recurrent motif candidate from a single ritual action
in the passage.
- id: motif:6
label: funeral games honoring the dead
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The argument states that Achilles institutes athletic and martial contests
after Patroclus' funeral.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: high
cautions: The detailed contests are only summarized in this passage.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 20973-20988, Book XXIII Argument
quote_or_summary: Achilles and the Myrmidons honor Patroclus; his ghost demands
burial; wood, procession, hair offerings, animal and captive sacrifices, pyre,
libations to Winds, bone collection in a gold urn, tomb, and funeral games are
listed.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: quote
locator: lines 20989-20994, Book XXIII Argument chronology
quote_or_summary: '"The scene / is generally on the sea-shore."'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 20996-21003
quote_or_summary: A mournful train passes through the city; a dust- and gore-soiled
body lies on the broad Hellespont shore; the Greeks seek their ships except the
Myrmidons.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 21004-21014
quote_or_summary: Achilles tells his companions not to release their horses, but
to lead their chariots in order and perform due honors to dead Patroclus before
resting or eating.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 21015-21026
quote_or_summary: The troops circle the dead three times with horses, renew lamentation,
and weep; Thetis aids their grief; Achilles lays blood-red hands on Patroclus'
cold breast.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 21027-21035
quote_or_summary: Achilles greets Patroclus' honored ghost on Pluto's coast, says
Hector lies before his feet, says Hector's carcass will be given to dogs, and
promises twelve Trojan victims around the funeral pyre.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 21036-21039
quote_or_summary: Achilles throws bleeding Hector before the bier, prone in the
dust; the Myrmidons remove armor and unbind horses.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 21040-21048
quote_or_summary: At Achilles' ship a feast is shared; swine, an ox, a goat, and
sheep are killed, and blood flows around the hero's prostrate body.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 21049-21063
quote_or_summary: Argive monarchs bring Achilles to the royal tent; heralds prepare
a tripod-vase and urge him to cleanse his bloodied hands, but he swears no water
will touch him until he places Patroclus on the pyre, raises the mound, and cuts
his sacred hair.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 21064-21070
quote_or_summary: Achilles asks the king of men to have Greece prepare the funeral
pile and fell forests, saying that when the earthly part mounts in fire, the allied
squadrons may return to their posts.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Extraction is based directly on the provided argument and verse excerpt.
Motif labels without taxonomy references are descriptive candidates requiring
human review. No comparison claims were made because the passage itself does not
explicitly compare traditions or motif families.
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 applied only where literal passage details supported them, especially sacrifice and fire; water was applied to the sea-shore/Hellespont setting.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg__l20969-l21070
passage_sha256=ad9bbce971559b74ebad165fb83dc10eb8fb9848da49b03edc90bd7056fe3f93