batch.motif.greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg-l5358-l5482
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg-l5358-l5482
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
passage_locator:
label: THE DUEL OF MENELAUS AND PARIS. / BOOK IV. / ARGUMENT. / THE BREACH OF THE
TRUCE, AND THE FIRST BATTLE.; lines 5358-5482
start: '5358'
end: '5482'
translation: The Iliad
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Greek and Trojan forces join battle after the truce is broken. Divine powers
incite the armies, Discord is personified as spreading violence, and several warriors
are killed in succession. The passage uses storm, flock, torrent, wolf, tower,
and poplar comparisons to describe battle noise, mass movement, corpse-struggle,
and death. Apollo then appears from Ilion and urges the Trojans to fight, reminding
them that Achilles is absent.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Tydides springs from his chariot onto the trembling ground, and his armor
resounds as he rushes toward war.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The Greek battalions move silently under their chiefs' commands, while the
Trojan host raises a loud and mixed clamor.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Mars incites one side and Minerva fires the other as the hosts join battle.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Discord is described as a dire sister of slaughter, growing from small beginnings
until her head can scarcely be bounded by the skies.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: The battle closes shield to shield, helmet to helmet, armor to armor, and
lance to lance, with darts flying and blood covering the field.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Antilochus is said to lead the slaughter by killing the Trojan Echepolus with
a lance through the helmet.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: An unnamed leader of the Abantian throng tries to despoil and drag Echepolus'
corpse, but Agenor kills him with a javelin.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: Ajax kills Simoisius, whose birth by the Simois and naming from the river
are recounted before his death is compared to a felled poplar.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: Antiphus throws at Ajax but misses and kills Leucus, who is loved by Ulysses.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:10
text: Ulysses responds in grief and rage, advances with his spear, and kills Democoon
above the ear.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:11
text: After Democoon falls, even Hector gives way, the Trojans retreat, and the
Greeks press forward and spoil the dead.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:12
text: Phoebus appears from Ilion's height and exhorts the Trojans to oppose the
Greeks, stating that Achilles fights no more.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Tydides
description: Armed warrior who springs from his car and rushes to war.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Greek host
description: Numerous bands moving silently under their chiefs and later pressing
on the fleeing Trojans.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:9
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Trojan host
description: Host making a general shout, later retreating after Democoon falls,
then addressed by Phoebus.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:9
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Mars
description: Divine figure who incites one side in battle.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Minerva
description: Divine figure who fires the other side in battle.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Discord
description: Personified force described as sister of the slaughtering power, growing
vast and causing nations to bleed.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Antilochus
description: Warrior who first strikes a valiant Trojan dead in this sequence by
killing Echepolus.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Echepolus
description: Trojan warrior killed by Antilochus when a lance passes through his
helmet into his brain.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Unnamed leader of the Abantian throng
description: Warrior who seizes Echepolus' corpse to despoil it and is killed by
Agenor.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:7
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Agenor
description: Warrior whose javelin kills the leader of the Abantian throng.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Simoisius
description: Young man born by the Simois shore and killed by Ajax.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Ajax
description: Warrior who kills Simoisius and is the intended target of Antiphus'
javelin.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Antiphus
description: Warrior who throws a javelin at Ajax but kills Leucus instead.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:14
name_or_label: Leucus
description: Warrior loved by Ulysses, killed by Antiphus' errant lance.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:15
name_or_label: Ulysses
description: Warrior who is grieved and enraged by Leucus' death and kills Democoon.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:16
name_or_label: Democoon
description: Old Priam's son from Abydos, killed by Ulysses' spear.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:17
name_or_label: Hector
description: Trojan leader who appears to fear and gives way after Democoon falls.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:18
name_or_label: Phoebus
description: Divine figure who appears from Ilion's height and animates the Trojan
fight with a speech.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:19
name_or_label: Achilles
description: Absent warrior named by Phoebus as no longer fighting.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
roles:
- id: role:1
label: warrior
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:12
- fig:13
- fig:15
- fig:17
basis: These figures are shown armed, attacking, retreating, or participating directly
in battle.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: role:2
label: opposing army
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
basis: The passage describes the Greeks and Trojans as opposing hosts joining battle.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:9
- id: role:3
label: divine battle-inciter
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:18
basis: Mars, Minerva, and Phoebus are each described as inspiring, firing, animating,
or exhorting warriors.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:9
- id: role:4
label: personified conflict
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Discord is personified as growing, stalking on earth, shaking the world,
and causing nations to bleed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: killer in battle sequence
assigned_to:
- fig:7
- fig:10
- fig:12
- fig:13
- fig:15
basis: Each assigned figure kills another named or described warrior in the passage.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:6
label: slain warrior
assigned_to:
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:11
- fig:14
- fig:16
basis: Each assigned figure is described as killed or falling dead in the battle.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:7
label: despoiler of corpse
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The Abantian leader seizes and drags Echepolus' corpse to despoil it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:8
label: divine speaker
assigned_to:
- fig:18
basis: Phoebus directly addresses and exhorts the Trojans.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:9
label: absent champion
assigned_to:
- fig:19
basis: Achilles is invoked as a formerly feared warrior who now fights no more.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: storm sea and waves
literal_form: Whitening sea surface, billows, growing storm, foam over rocks, thunder
to the skies.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: bleating flocks
literal_form: Fleecy flocks in folds awaiting the milkers' hand, with lambs replying
from hills.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: world-shaking Discord
literal_form: Discord with a horrid head reaching toward the skies, stalking on
earth and shaking the world.
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: iron tempest of darts
literal_form: Sounding darts described as flying in iron tempests.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: torrents and channels
literal_form: Torrents increased by rills roaring through channels to the main.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: wolves over prey
literal_form: Rapacious wolves engaging over their prey.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:7
label: bloody tower
literal_form: A tower long withstanding force and fire, its walls smeared with blood,
used in a death comparison.
associated_figures:
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:8
label: felled poplar
literal_form: A tall poplar in watery ground cut down by a craftsman and left to
weather, sun, and rain.
associated_figures:
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:9
label: Ilion's towering height
literal_form: Height of Ilion from which Phoebus shines forth revealed.
associated_figures:
- fig:18
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Armies advance into battle
summary: Tydides rushes to war; Greek ranks move in disciplined silence while Trojans
raise a widespread clamor; the hosts join under divine inspiration.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:2
label: Discord and close combat
summary: Discord is personified as spreading slaughter while the armies clash shield
to shield and blood covers the field.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:3
label: First killings and corpse-struggle
summary: Antilochus kills Echepolus; an Abantian leader attempts to strip the corpse
but is killed by Agenor; both sides gather around the slain like wolves over prey.
figure_refs:
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: Death of Simoisius
summary: Ajax kills young Simoisius, whose birth by the Simois is recalled, and
his fall is compared to a cut poplar.
figure_refs:
- fig:11
- fig:12
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Leucus, Democoon, and Apollo's exhortation
summary: Antiphus' javelin kills Leucus instead of Ajax; Ulysses kills Democoon
in response; the Trojans retreat until Phoebus appears from Ilion and urges them
on by noting Achilles' absence.
figure_refs:
- fig:12
- fig:13
- fig:14
- fig:15
- fig:16
- fig:17
- fig:18
- fig:19
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: divine incitement of opposing armies
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Mars, Minerva, and later Phoebus are described as inspiring, firing, animating,
or exhorting combatants.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives divine intervention in battle, but does not frame it
as judgment, covenant, or another more specific taxonomy family.
- id: motif:2
label: personified Discord spreading war
taxonomy_refs:
- chaos
basis: Discord is presented as a growing personified power that stalks the earth,
shakes the world, and makes nations bleed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: medium
cautions: The available taxonomy has no exact 'war discord' category; 'chaos' is
a broad fit only.
- id: motif:3
label: battle as storm and torrent
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage repeatedly compares martial mass movement and battle noise to
waves, storm, and rushing torrents.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: This is an imagery pattern in the passage rather than a full narrative
myth motif.
- id: motif:4
label: struggle over the slain body and spoils
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: A warrior attempts to despoil and drag Echepolus' corpse, is killed, and
both armies gather around the slain like wolves over prey.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy family directly corresponds to corpse-stripping or
battlefield spoil-taking.
- id: motif:5
label: young warrior cut down like a tree
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Simoisius' youth, birth, and death are recounted, and his fall is compared
to a poplar cut down and left to wither.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The tree is an explicit symbol, but the death comparison is a poetic simile
rather than a separate mythic episode.
- id: motif:6
label: absent champion invoked to restore courage
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Phoebus urges the Trojans to fight by reminding them that Achilles, the feared
warrior, is no longer fighting.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage references Achilles' absence without narrating the cause or
full context of that absence.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage explicitly compares battle movement and sound to water in storm
and torrent imagery.
claim_level: visual_similarity
target: battle-as-water/storm imagery pattern
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: This is an internal poetic comparison, not evidence by itself for historical
contact or shared inheritance.
- id: claim:2
claim: The passage explicitly compares Simoisius' death to a felled poplar, linking
a slain youth with a cut tree image.
claim_level: visual_similarity
target: slain-youth-as-felled-tree image pattern
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: The comparison is confined to this simile and does not establish a
broader tree-death myth without additional evidence.
- id: claim:3
claim: The passage compares warriors fighting over the slain to wolves struggling
over prey.
claim_level: visual_similarity
target: battlefield corpse-struggle as animal predation pattern
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: The claim is limited to the explicit animal simile and does not imply
a werewolf or transformation motif.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 5358-5361
quote_or_summary: Tydides springs from his car onto the trembling ground; his ringing
arms resound as he rushes to war.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief summary.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 5362-5377
quote_or_summary: Greek battalions are compared to storm-driven sea waves and move
silently under chiefs' commands; Trojan clamor is compared to bleating flocks
and lambs in the hills.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief summary.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 5378-5387
quote_or_summary: 'Each host joins battle under a god''s inspiration: Mars incites
one side and Minerva the other; Discord is personified as growing vast, stalking
earth, and causing nations to bleed.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief summary.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 5388-5396
quote_or_summary: The armies close shield to shield and lance to lance; darts fly,
cries and groans rise, and blood dyes the field.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief summary.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 5397-5403
quote_or_summary: The mingled hosts and rebounding cries are compared to torrents
rushing down hills through many channels to the sea.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief summary.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 5404-5422
quote_or_summary: Antilochus kills Echepolus with a lance; an unnamed Abantian leader
tries to despoil and drag the corpse but Agenor kills him; warriors gather around
the slain like wolves over prey.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief summary.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 5423-5446
quote_or_summary: Ajax kills young Simoisius, whose birth near the Simois is recalled;
his fall is compared to a poplar cut down in watery ground and left to weather.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief summary.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 5447-5466
quote_or_summary: Antiphus throws at Ajax but kills Leucus; Ulysses, grieved and
enraged, advances and kills Democoon, old Priam's son from Abydos.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief summary.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 5467-5482
quote_or_summary: Trojans are frightened and give way; Greeks press on and spoil
the dead; Phoebus appears from Ilion's height and urges the Trojans to fight,
saying Achilles fights no more.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/iliad-pope.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief summary.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Literal battle sequence, figures, and similes are clear in the supplied passage.
Motif taxonomy mapping is more cautious because the available motif families do
not closely match several battlefield patterns.
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: |-
Only the supplied passage and metadata were used. No external Iliad context or unstated proper names were added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-iliad-pope-gutenberg__l5358-l5482
passage_sha256=6c976776ad2771558fd3de0f51e43586ea4c12e6e79acd022547e86878ba0d2e