batch.motif.greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg-l21201-l21342
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg-l21201-l21342
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
passage_locator:
label: ARGUMENT. / THE DEATH OF HECTOR. / BOOK XXIII. / ARGUMENT.; lines 21201-21342
start: '21201'
end: '21342'
translation: The Iliad
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: 'Achilles leads the funeral rites for Patroclus: a great pyre is built,
animals and Trojan captives are killed and burned with the body, and Achilles
calls to Patroclus'' ghost. The gods prevent Hector''s corpse from being harmed.
Achilles invokes the winds to kindle the pyre; Iris summons them, and the fire
burns through the night while Achilles pours libations and mourns. At dawn the
fire is quenched, Patroclus'' bones are collected in a golden vessel, and a tomb
mound is raised.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Achilles lays a sacred lock on Patroclus' cold hand and the Greeks renew their
mourning.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Achilles tells Atrides to let the troops retire while selected chiefs attend
the pyre.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Those appointed to inter the slain heap up a large pyramid-like pyre, place
Patroclus' body on top, and arrange slaughtered sheep and oxen around it.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Jars of honey and fragrant oil are suspended around the funeral pile.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Four horses, two household dogs, and twelve Trojan captives are killed and
added to the pyre.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Achilles calls to Patroclus' spirit and says the Trojan captives are offered
to his shade.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Achilles threatens Hector's corpse with exposure to dogs, but the gods keep
the corpse inviolate.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Venus applies heavenly fragrance to Hector's body and drives bloodhounds away;
Phoebus shields the body from drying heat.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: When the pyre does not burn, Achilles prays to the winds and offers victims
and libations to Zephyr and Boreas.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Iris goes to the airy hall of the winds and relays Achilles' request that
their blast kindle Patroclus' pile.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: The winds arrive with storm and clouds; the sea rises, Troy feels the blast,
and the funeral pile catches fire and burns all night.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: Achilles circles the shore through the night, pours libations from a golden
bowl, and hails Patroclus' soul.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:13
text: At dawn the blaze dies down and the winds return to their caves across the
Thracian seas.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:14
text: Achilles instructs the Greeks to quench the remaining flame with dark wine,
collect Patroclus' bones, place them in a golden vase, and raise a tomb.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:15
text: The Greeks quench the embers with wine, collect the white bones with tears,
cover the urn with linen, and heap a mound of earth as a memorial.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Achilles
description: The chief and son of Peleus who directs and performs Patroclus' funeral
rites, mourns, prays, sacrifices, and gives instructions for the bones and tomb.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Patroclus
description: The dead hero whose body is placed on the pyre and whose spirit or
shade is addressed by Achilles.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Atrides
description: The king of men addressed by Achilles regarding relief for the mourning
troops.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Grecian troops, chiefs, and companions
description: The mourners and attendants who return to the ships, attend the pyre,
quench embers, collect bones, and raise the memorial mound.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:10
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Sheep, oxen, horses, and dogs
description: Animals killed or placed around the funeral pile in connection with
Patroclus' rites.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Twelve Trojan captives
description: Captives killed by Achilles and offered to Patroclus' shade.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Hector's corpse
description: The slain body threatened by Achilles but protected by the gods from
dogs and destructive heat.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Venus
description: A goddess who hovers over Hector's body, applies fragrant unguents,
and drives bloodhounds away.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Phoebus
description: A god who protects Hector's body with a veil of air from sun and Sirian
heat.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Iris
description: The winged messenger who hears Achilles' call and summons the winds.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Zephyr, Boreas, and the winds
description: The airy powers invoked to raise the fire and later arriving as a storm
to ignite the funeral pile.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
roles:
- id: role:1
label: mourner
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Achilles weeps, addresses Patroclus' soul, and circles the shore during the
burning.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:2
label: funeral ritual leader
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Achilles directs the troops, arranges sacrifices, invokes divine powers,
and orders the collection of bones and construction of the tomb.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:9
- id: role:3
label: dead hero and recipient of rites
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Patroclus' corpse is laid on the pyre, and offerings and libations are directed
toward his soul or shade.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: role:4
label: addressed ruler
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Achilles addresses Atrides as king of men when organizing the funeral attendance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:5
label: funeral attendants and mourners
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The Greeks attend the funeral work, collect the bones, and raise the mound.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:10
- id: role:6
label: sacrificial victims
assigned_to:
- fig:5
- fig:6
basis: Animals and Trojan captives are slain or added to the pyre as part of the
rites.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:7
label: protected slain enemy
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Hector's corpse is threatened by Achilles but guarded inviolate by divine
action.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:8
label: divine protector of corpse
assigned_to:
- fig:8
- fig:9
basis: Venus and Phoebus preserve Hector's body from dogs and heat.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:9
label: divine messenger
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Iris hears Achilles' call and carries the request to the winds.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:10
label: divine or personified natural force
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: The winds answer the summons and drive flame onto the pyre.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: sacred lock of hair
literal_form: Lock placed on Patroclus' cold hand
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: funeral pyre and fire
literal_form: Large funeral pile that burns Patroclus' body and offerings
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:7
- id: sym:3
label: honey and fragrant oil
literal_form: Jars suspended around the pile
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:4
label: libations
literal_form: Libations cast to the winds and poured from a golden bowl through
the night
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:5
label: sacrificial victims
literal_form: Sheep, oxen, horses, dogs, and Trojan captives killed in the funeral
context
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:6
label: golden vase or urn
literal_form: Golden vessel holding Patroclus' collected bones, covered with linen
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: sym:7
label: tomb mound
literal_form: Rising earth heaped as a memorial of the dead
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: sym:8
label: sea and ocean boundary
literal_form: Ocean, floods, main, and Thracian seas mentioned in connection with
Iris and the winds
associated_figures:
- fig:10
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: sym:9
label: caves of the winds
literal_form: Caves to which the whistling winds return after the fire dies
associated_figures:
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs:
- cave
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Mourning and delegation of funeral duties
summary: Achilles places a sacred lock on Patroclus' hand and asks Atrides to release
the mourning troops while chiefs remain to attend the pyre.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Construction and loading of the funeral pyre
summary: A large pyre is built; Patroclus' body is laid on top, and animals, honey,
oil, horses, dogs, and Trojan captives are added or killed for the rite.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Address to Patroclus' ghost and threat against Hector
summary: Achilles addresses Patroclus' ghost and says the captives are offered to
his shade, while threatening that Hector's body will be left for dogs.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Divine preservation of Hector's corpse
summary: Venus and Phoebus protect Hector's body from dogs, drying, and heat, making
Achilles' threat ineffective.
figure_refs:
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Summoning of the winds
summary: Because the pyre has not ignited, Achilles invokes Zephyr and Boreas with
sacrifices and libations; Iris carries the request to the winds.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:10
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:4
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:6
label: Night burning of the pyre
summary: The winds come with storm, the sea rises, and the pyre burns through the
night while Achilles pours libations and mourns Patroclus.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:4
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:7
label: Dawn, quenching, bone collection, and tomb
summary: At dawn the fire dies; Achilles orders the flame quenched with wine, Patroclus'
bones collected in a golden vase, and a tomb raised; the Greeks carry out these
acts.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:4
- sym:6
- sym:7
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: funeral sacrifice for a dead hero
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
basis: The passage describes the killing or offering of animals and twelve Trojan
captives in connection with Patroclus' funeral and Achilles' address to his shade.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents these as funeral rites and offerings; broader ritual
significance beyond the text is not inferred.
- id: motif:2
label: divine protection of an unburied corpse
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Although Achilles threatens Hector's corpse with dogs, Venus and Phoebus
preserve the body from dogs and destructive heat.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: No taxonomy reference among the supplied motif families directly matches
this corpse-preservation episode.
- id: motif:3
label: personified winds summoned to ignite a funeral pyre
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Achilles prays to Zephyr and Boreas; Iris summons the winds, and their storm
causes the pyre to burn through the night.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: This is a passage-specific ritual and divine-assistance pattern, not mapped
to a supplied motif family.
- id: motif:4
label: bones gathered into an urn and covered before tomb raising
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: After the pyre burns out, Patroclus' bones are collected with tears, placed
in a golden vase, covered with linen, and enclosed by a memorial mound.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not supply a comparative frame beyond the described funerary
sequence.
- id: motif:5
label: journey or rest in the underworld shade
taxonomy_refs:
- afterlife_journey_map
basis: Achilles addresses Patroclus' ghost on Pluto's coast and later says his own
bones should rest until he follows to the infernal shade.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage mentions underworld locations and shades but does not narrate
a detailed afterlife journey.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 21201-21211
quote_or_summary: Achilles lays a sacred lock on Patroclus' hand, asks Atrides to
relieve the troops, and reserves the pyre attendance for chiefs.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 21212-21222
quote_or_summary: A hundred-foot pyre is heaped; Patroclus' body is laid on top;
sheep, oxen, fat, honey, and oil are arranged around the pile.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 21223-21230
quote_or_summary: Four horses, two household dogs, and twelve Trojan captives are
killed and placed in the fire's common blaze.
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 21231-21240
quote_or_summary: Achilles calls to Patroclus' ghost, says twelve Trojan heroes
are offered to his shade, and threatens Hector's corpse with dogs.
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 21241-21250
quote_or_summary: 'The gods thwart the threat against Hector: Venus protects the
body from hounds with fragrant unguents, and Phoebus shields it from sun and heat.'
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 21254-21280
quote_or_summary: Achilles invokes Zephyr and Boreas with promised victims and libations;
Iris hears and asks the winds to drive a blast onto Patroclus' pile.
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 21281-21300
quote_or_summary: The winds arrive with storm; the sea rises; Troy feels the blast;
the funeral pile burns all night while Achilles pours libations and mourns.
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 21301-21307
quote_or_summary: At dawn the blaze sinks, the pile no longer burns, and the winds
return to their caves across the Thracian seas.
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 21308-21330
quote_or_summary: After sleeping, Achilles orders the chiefs to quench the flame
with dark wine, select Patroclus' bones, place them in a golden vase, and erect
a tomb.
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 21331-21342
quote_or_summary: The Greeks pour dark wine on the embers, collect the white bones
with tears in a golden vase, cover the urn with linen, and raise a mound of earth.
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: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is strong for the funeral sequence. Motif mapping is limited
to supplied taxonomy and cautious where no exact family is available. 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: |-
All observations and motif candidates are based only on the supplied passage and metadata.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg__l21201-l21342
passage_sha256=dbb11a137a1838a4c403cd6788cc3a878803c095fad8dadf30b93ca41cdc49cf