batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l1301-l1350
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l1301-l1350
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
passage_locator:
label: A TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS / THE KORAN. / PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE / SECTION I.;
lines 1301-1350
start: '1301'
end: '1350'
translation: The Koran (Al-Qur'an)
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: 'The passage recounts South Arabian history around Yaman and Hamyar, emphasizing
the inundation of Aram: Saba builds a city and a massive dam or reservoir to control
mountain water for irrigation, household distribution, and political dominance;
because of the people''s pride, God sends a flood by night that breaks the mound,
destroys the city and neighboring settlements, and disperses tribes, some of whom
found later kingdoms. The passage then summarizes later Ethiopian, Persian, and
Islamic political transitions in Yaman.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Several lesser princes ruled parts of Yaman and were mostly subject to the
king of Hamyar, called the great king.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The inundation of Aram is described as a major calamity for tribes settled
in Yaman and as famous in Arabian history.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Eight tribes were forced to abandon their dwellings after the inundation,
and some are said to have given rise to the kingdoms of Ghassan and Hira.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Abdshems, surnamed Saba, built the city called Saba and later Mareb.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Saba made a vast mound or dam to receive water coming down from the mountains.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: The reservoir water was used for inhabitants, watering lands, and keeping
subjected country in awe because the builders were masters of the water.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: The dam stood like a mountain above the city and was believed too strong to
fail.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Water rose to almost twenty fathoms and was enclosed by a solid work on which
many inhabitants built houses.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: Each family had a portion of water distributed by aqueducts.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: God is described as displeased by the people’s pride and insolence and as
resolving to humble and disperse them.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: A mighty flood broke down the mound by night while inhabitants were asleep.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: The flood carried away the whole city, neighboring towns, and people.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:13
text: Later in Yaman, Ethiopian forces intervened to assist Christians against Dhu
Nows, who died by forcing his horse into the sea.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:14
text: Persian-backed Selif recovered the throne and drove out Ethiopians, after
which Persians appointed succeeding princes until Yaman submitted to Mohammed
through Badhan.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: King of Hamyar
description: The ruler called the great king, to whom lesser princes in Yaman were
mostly subject.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Tribes settled in Yaman
description: Tribes affected by the inundation of Aram; eight tribes were forced
to abandon their dwellings.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Abdshems, surnamed Saba
description: Founder of the city Saba, later Mareb, and builder of the vast mound
or dam.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Inhabitants of Saba/Mareb
description: People who used distributed water, built houses on the solid work,
and were asleep when the flood broke the mound.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: GOD
description: Divine agent described as displeased, resolving to humble and disperse
the people, and sending the flood.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Dhu Nows
description: King of Yaman described as a bigoted Jew who persecuted Christians
and died by forcing his horse into the sea.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: King of Ethiopia
description: Ruler who sent forces to assist Christians of Yaman.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Selif, son of Dhu Yazan
description: Hamyarite who obtained Persian support, recovered the throne, and drove
out Ethiopians.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Badhan
description: Last Persian-appointed prince who submitted to Mohammed and embraced
the new religion.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
roles:
- id: role:1
label: regional overlord
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Lesser princes in Yaman were mostly subject to the king of Hamyar, called
the great king.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: displaced tribes
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Eight tribes were forced to abandon their dwellings after the inundation.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: city founder and dam builder
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Saba built the city and made the vast mound or dam.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: water users and flood victims
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The inhabitants received water portions and were asleep when the flood broke
the mound and carried away the city.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:5
label: divine judge and sender of flood
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: God is said to be displeased by pride and to send the mighty flood.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: persecuting king
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Dhu Nows is described as persecuting Christians of Yaman before losing his
life and crown.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:7
label: foreign rescuer of persecuted Christians
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The Ethiopian king sent forces to assist Christians of Yaman.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:8
label: restorer claimant with foreign support
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Selif obtained succours from the king of Persia, recovered the throne, and
drove out Ethiopians.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:9
label: submitting last prince
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Badhan, the last of the Persian-appointed rulers, submitted to Mohammed and
embraced the new religion.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: controlled water
literal_form: Water stored behind the dam and distributed by aqueducts; also used
to dominate subjected country.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: sym:2
label: destructive flood
literal_form: A mighty flood that breaks the mound and carries away city, towns,
and people.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:3
label: mountains as water source
literal_form: Mountains from which water came down into the reservoir.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: mountain-like dam
literal_form: The building stood like a mountain above the city.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:5
label: sea death
literal_form: Dhu Nows forced his horse into the sea and lost his life and crown.
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Yaman under Hamyarite overlordship
summary: The passage describes lesser princes ruling parts of Yaman under the king
of Hamyar, called the great king.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Construction and use of Saba’s dam
summary: Saba founds a city and builds a vast dam or reservoir to capture mountain
water for inhabitants, agriculture, and political control; water is distributed
to families by aqueducts.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:3
label: Inundation of Aram and dispersal
summary: God, displeased by pride and insolence, sends a flood that breaks the mound
at night while people sleep, destroys the city and neighboring settlements, and
disperses tribes, some of whom found later kingdoms.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- id: scene:4
label: Ethiopian intervention and death of Dhu Nows
summary: The king of Ethiopia sends forces to assist Christians of Yaman against
Dhu Nows, who loses his life and crown in the sea.
figure_refs:
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:5
label: Persian-backed restoration and later submission
summary: Selif gains Persian help, recovers the throne, and drives out Ethiopians;
later Persian-appointed princes rule until Badhan submits to Mohammed and embraces
the new religion.
figure_refs:
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: divine flood as punishment for pride
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
- flood_and_renewal
basis: The passage explicitly links God’s displeasure at pride and insolence with
the sending of a flood that destroys the city and disperses the people.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The account appears in Sale’s preliminary historical discourse, not in
the quoted Qur'anic text in this line range.
- id: motif:2
label: catastrophic flood causes migration and new kingdoms
taxonomy_refs:
- flood_and_renewal
basis: The inundation forces eight tribes to abandon their dwellings, and some are
said to give rise to Ghassan and Hira.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: The renewal aspect is political and migratory rather than an explicit
cosmic or ritual renewal.
- id: motif:3
label: control of water as political power
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The dam stores mountain water for use and irrigation, and the passage says
control of water kept subjected country in greater awe.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: No supplied motif-family taxonomy directly matches hydraulic sovereignty;
this is a candidate pattern rather than a listed motif ref.
- id: motif:4
label: fall of overconfident monumental work
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The dam is described as mountain-like and thought incapable of failing, yet
it is broken by the divinely sent flood.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: This is inferred from the contrast between the structure’s perceived strength
and its collapse; the passage does not name it as a separate motif.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The inundation of Aram in this passage fits a flood-and-dispersal pattern
in which a destructive water event produces migration and new political formations.
claim_level: same_motif
target: flood_and_renewal motif family
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage presents the event as Arabian history; it does not explicitly
compare it with other flood narratives.
- id: claim:2
claim: The account also functions as a divine-judgment pattern because the flood
is attributed to God’s displeasure at pride and insolence.
claim_level: same_function
target: divine_judgment motif family
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: The claim is limited to the stated moral causation in this passage
and does not establish historical contact with other judgment-flood traditions.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 1301-1305
quote_or_summary: Lesser princes ruled parts of Yaman and were mostly subject to
the king of Hamyar, called the great king.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 1305-1314
quote_or_summary: The inundation of Aram is called a first great calamity in Yaman;
eight tribes abandoned their dwellings, and some later gave rise to Ghassan and
Hira.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 1314-1318
quote_or_summary: Abdshems, surnamed Saba, built Saba/Mareb and made a vast mound
or dam as a reservoir for water coming down from the mountains.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 1318-1321
quote_or_summary: The reservoir served inhabitants, watered lands, and helped keep
subjected country in awe because its builders were masters of the water.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 1321-1326
quote_or_summary: The building stood like a mountain above the city, was thought
unable to fail, held water almost twenty fathoms high, and was solid enough for
houses to be built on it.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: line 1327
quote_or_summary: Every family had a portion of the water distributed by aqueducts.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 1327-1332
quote_or_summary: God, displeased by pride and insolence, resolved to humble and
disperse the people, sending a mighty flood that broke the mound by night while
inhabitants slept and carried away the city, nearby towns, and people.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 1333-1340
quote_or_summary: The Ethiopian king sent forces to assist Christians of Yaman against
Dhu Nows; Dhu Nows forced his horse into the sea and lost his life and crown.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 1340-1348
quote_or_summary: Selif obtained Persian aid, recovered the throne, and drove out
Ethiopians; succeeding princes were Persian-appointed until Badhan submitted to
Mohammed and embraced the new religion.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: The flood, dam, dispersal, and divine displeasure are explicit. Some political-history
figures are included because they occur in the passage, though the strongest motif
evidence is concentrated in the Aram inundation account.
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 provided passage text and supplied taxonomy references. No external identifications or historical corrections added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l1301-l1350
passage_sha256=f1dccb420f64a157aa4e4a24abbf4fb79aaa785d00e2b96f6f9611027682afce