batch.motif.greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg-l22426-l22569
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg-l22426-l22569
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
passage_locator:
label: ARGUMENT. / BOOK XXIV. / ARGUMENT. / THE REDEMPTION OF THE BODY OF HECTOR.;
lines 22426-22569
start: '22426'
end: '22569'
translation: The Iliad
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Priam tells Hecuba that a messenger of Jove has commanded him to go with
gifts to Achilles and recover Hector's body. Hecuba warns him against facing Achilles
alone. Priam insists the command is divine and prepares ransom gifts and a chariot,
rebuking servants and surviving sons in his grief. Hecuba brings wine for a libation
to Jove and asks Priam to seek a favorable bird omen before departing.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Priam says he saw a messenger of Jove who ordered him to try to move Achilles
and obtain Hector's corpse with gifts.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Priam intends to leave Troy's ramparts and pass through hostile camps to reach
the enemy.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Hecuba cries out and warns Priam that Achilles has killed many of his sons
and may not spare him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Hecuba describes Hector as doomed to dogs, vultures, and Peleus' son, yet
says he died heroically in battle for his country.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Priam refuses Hecuba's attempt to stop him, saying that heaven commands him
and that he saw and heard a present goddess.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Priam says he is willing to die in the Greek camp if the gods have doomed
him there, and he hopes at least to embrace his slaughtered son.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: Priam takes costly textiles, metal vessels, talents of precious metal, and
a large treaty bowl from his stores as gifts for Hector's recovery.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: In grief, Priam drives away attendants and says Hector was Troy's sole defense
and guardian power.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: Priam foresees Trojan blood on the fields of Phrygia and the ruins of a smoking
town.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: Priam rebukes nine surviving sons by name and orders them to prepare his wheels
for the journey to redeem Hector.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: Priam's sons prepare the car, bind a cabinet to it, load the ransom gifts
on the wain, and yoke mules and horses.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: Hecuba brings a golden bowl of fragrant wine intended as a libation to Jove.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:13
text: Hecuba asks Priam to pray to Jove on Ida for a winged omen on the right side
before continuing his journey.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Priam
description: The aged Trojan king and father of Hector, preparing to go to Achilles
to ransom Hector's body.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Hecuba
description: Priam's consort, who warns him against the journey and later brings
wine for a libation to Jove.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:8
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Hector
description: Priam and Hecuba's slain son, whose body Priam seeks to recover from
Achilles.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Achilles / Peleus' son
description: The Greek warrior who killed Hector and holds his body near the ships.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Jove
description: The god whose messenger commands Priam and to whom Hecuba directs a
libation and prayer for an omen.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:8
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Messenger of Jove / present goddess
description: A divine messenger seen and heard by Priam, bringing the command to
ransom Hector's body.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Priam's surviving sons
description: Nine sons named as Polites, Paris, Agathon, Deiphobus, Dius, Hippothous,
Pammon, Helenes the seer, and Antiphon; they prepare the car after Priam rebukes
them.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Priam's attendants and servants
description: Menial and sorrowing attendants whom Priam drives away during his grief.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Hoary herald
description: An aged herald who helps Priam harness the horses.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
roles:
- id: role:1
label: grieving father
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Priam mourns Hector, seeks a last embrace, and prepares to recover his body.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:2
label: ransom-seeker
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Priam assembles gifts and orders his vehicle prepared to redeem Hector.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:3
label: divinely commanded traveler
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Priam says a messenger of Jove and a present goddess commanded him to go.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: warning spouse
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Hecuba urges Priam not to face Achilles alone.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: ritual adviser
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Hecuba brings wine for libation and instructs Priam to pray for an augury.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:6
label: slain son whose body is sought
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Hector is dead, and Priam seeks to obtain his corpse from Achilles.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:7
label: killer and holder of the body
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Hecuba names Achilles as the murderer of Priam's race, and Priam seeks Hector's
corpse at the Greek ships.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:8
label: divine authority and omen-giver
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Jove sends the command through a messenger and is asked to send a winged
omen.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:8
- id: role:9
label: divine messenger
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Priam says he saw and heard the messenger/goddess who brought the command.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: role:10
label: sons who prepare the vehicle
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The sons obey Priam and produce the car for the journey.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:11
label: attendants dismissed in grief
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Priam furiously drives away the attending servants and friends.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:12
label: helper in harnessing
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The herald helps Priam join the horses to the car.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: ransom gifts
literal_form: Carpets, vests, mantles, veils, gold garments, tripods, chargers,
talents, and a large bowl offered for Hector's body.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: sym:2
label: large treaty bowl
literal_form: A large well-laboured bowl described as the pledge of treaties once
with friendly Thrace.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: chariot and wain
literal_form: The prepared car and loaded wain used for Priam's journey with the
ransom gifts.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:4
label: golden libation bowl with wine
literal_form: A golden bowl foaming with fragrant wine, intended as a libation to
Jove.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:5
label: right-side bird omen
literal_form: A winged messenger or strong sovereign of birds requested to appear
on the right side of the sky.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:6
label: Ida's brow
literal_form: The height from which Jove is asked to survey Troy and send an augury.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:7
label: smoking town
literal_form: Priam's spoken image of Troy's future ruins as a smoking town.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Priam announces the divine command
summary: Priam tells Hecuba that Jove's messenger has commanded him to leave Troy
with gifts and recover Hector's body from Achilles.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Hecuba's warning and lament
summary: Hecuba warns Priam not to face Achilles alone and laments Hector's fate
and heroic death.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Priam accepts divine risk
summary: Priam refuses to be stopped, grounds his decision in divine command, and
says he will accept death if the gods have doomed him in the enemy camp.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:6
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Ransom gifts assembled
summary: Priam opens his stores and selects costly goods to offer in exchange for
a last look at Hector and his return to Troy.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Priam's grief before servants and sons
summary: Priam drives away attendants, speaks of Troy's impending ruin, rebukes
his surviving sons, and commands them to prepare his vehicle.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:6
label: Vehicle prepared for departure
summary: Priam's sons and attendants prepare the car and wain, load the ransom gifts,
and yoke mules and horses, with the herald assisting.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:7
label: Libation and requested omen
summary: Hecuba brings wine in a golden bowl and instructs Priam to pour to Jove
and seek a favorable right-side bird omen before leaving.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: ransom exchange for the body of the slain
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: Priam gathers costly gifts as the price for recovering Hector's body from
Achilles.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The exchange is framed as a ransom within heroic warfare; the taxonomy
label is used broadly because a body is sought through gifts under divine command.
- id: motif:2
label: divinely commanded dangerous departure
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: Priam plans to leave Troy and cross hostile camps because he says a divine
messenger commanded him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The passage covers preparation and intent rather than the completed journey.
- id: motif:3
label: ritual request for augury before a perilous journey
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Hecuba instructs Priam to pour a libation to Jove and seek a favorable bird
omen before he proceeds.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: No specific taxonomy reference among the supplied motif families directly
names augury.
- id: motif:4
label: city's guardian lost and doom foreseen
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Priam says Hector, Troy's sole defense and guardian power, is gone and foresees
bloodshed and the smoking ruins of Troy under Jove's ruinous will.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents Priam's grief-stricken speech and foreboding; it
does not narrate the actual destruction in this excerpt.
- id: motif:5
label: grieving parent seeking contact with the dead child
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_parent_child
basis: Priam seeks Hector's body, saying that at least one cold embrace may be allowed
and that his tears may mingle with Hector's blood.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: medium
cautions: The available taxonomy reference names a divine parent-child motif, while
Priam and Hector are human; the fit is thematic rather than exact.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 22426-22433
quote_or_summary: Priam tells Hecuba that a messenger of Jove commands him to leave
the ramparts and obtain Hector's corpse from Achilles with gifts.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 22434-22462
quote_or_summary: Hecuba warns Priam not to pass alone through enemy hosts or face
Achilles, laments Hector's doom to dogs and vultures, and says Hector fell heroically
in battle.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 22463-22478
quote_or_summary: Priam says the command is from heaven, that he saw and heard a
present goddess, and that he accepts death if the gods doom him in the enemy camp,
desiring a final embrace of Hector.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 22479-22490
quote_or_summary: Priam draws from his stores twelve carpets, vests, mantles, veils,
gold garments, tripods, chargers, talents, and a large treaty bowl from Thrace
as gifts to recover Hector.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 22491-22513
quote_or_summary: Priam drives away attendants in grief, says Hector was Troy's
sole defense and guardian power, and foresees bloodshed and the smoking ruin of
the city.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 22514-22537
quote_or_summary: Priam calls nine surviving sons by name, rebukes them as inferior
to his slain sons, and orders them to prepare his wheels to redeem Hector.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 22538-22557
quote_or_summary: The sons prepare the car, attach the cabinet, load the gifts on
the wain, and bring mules and horses; Priam and the herald harness the horses.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 22558-22569
quote_or_summary: Hecuba brings a golden bowl of fragrant wine for libation to Jove
and tells Priam to pray for a right-side bird omen from Ida before proceeding.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: The main actions, figures, objects, and scenes are explicit in the passage.
Motif taxonomy alignment is partly broad because the supplied controlled list
lacks specific labels for ransom of a corpse and augury.
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: |-
No comparison claims were added because the passage itself does not make an explicit comparison to another tradition, corpus, or motif family beyond its own narrative pattern.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg__l22426-l22569
passage_sha256=9370dca6bfbf076cdf34c07d22628a3be19927987dad469def76e0f2dae3c04e