Comparative mythology corpus

batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l9025-l9084

batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l9025-l9084

---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l9025-l9084
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
passage_locator:
  label: CHAPTER I. / IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD / CHAPTER II. / IN THE
    NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.; lines 9025-9084
  start: '9025'
  end: '9084'
  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 includes translator notes on the calf made by al Smeri, its
    animation by dust from Gabriel's horse, punitive slaying after calf worship, and
    seventy men struck dead and restored after demanding to see God. The translated
    Qur'anic text then recounts divine provisions of clouds, manna, and quails; a
    command to enter a city humbly and seek forgiveness; punishment for altering the
    commanded expression; Moses striking a rock with his rod to bring forth twelve
    fountains; and punishment after the people reject one food and ask for produce
    of the earth.
  language: English
  quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
  text: Al Smeri is described as collecting ornaments and melting them in a furnace
    into a mass that came out in the form of a calf.
  category: action
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: obs:2
  text: The Israelites are described as giving religious worship to the calf image.
  category: action
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: obs:3
  text: Al Smeri is described as throwing dust from the footsteps of Gabriel's horse
    into the mouth of the calf, after which the calf began to low and became animated.
  category: action
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: obs:4
  text: A translator note says that, after the calf episode, a sentence of slaughter
    was executed and that God sent a dark cloud so the executioners would not see
    one another.
  category: sequence
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:2
- id: obs:5
  text: Seventy men chosen by Moses are said to have heard God's voice, demanded to
    see God, been struck dead by lightning, and been restored to life through Moses's
    intercession.
  category: sequence
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: obs:6
  text: God caused clouds to overshadow the people and caused manna and quails to
    descend for food.
  category: action
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
- id: obs:7
  text: The people are commanded to enter a city gate worshipping and to say a word
    of forgiveness so that their sins may be pardoned.
  category: speech
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:5
- id: obs:8
  text: The ungodly changed the commanded expression, and indignation from heaven
    was sent down because they transgressed.
  category: sequence
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:6
- id: obs:9
  text: When Moses asked for drink for his people, God commanded him to strike the
    rock with his rod, and twelve fountains gushed out.
  category: action
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
- id: obs:10
  text: The twelve fountains are said to correspond to the number of the tribes, and
    each group knew its drinking-place.
  category: relationship
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
- id: obs:11
  text: The people complained to Moses that they would not be satisfied with one kind
    of food and asked him to pray for herbs, cucumbers, garlic, lentils, and onions.
  category: speech
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:8
- id: obs:12
  text: Moses asks whether they will exchange what is better for what is worse; the
    people are then described as smitten with vileness and misery and as drawing indignation
    from God.
  category: sequence
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
  name_or_label: al Smeri
  description: A principal man among the children of Israel, identified in the note
    as the person who cast the calf.
  role_refs:
  - role:1
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: fig:2
  name_or_label: Aaron
  description: Described as commanding in Moses's absence and ordering ornaments to
    be collected.
  role_refs:
  - role:2
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: fig:3
  name_or_label: Moses
  description: Leader associated with asking drink for his people, responding to their
    food complaint, and interceding for the seventy men in the note.
  role_refs:
  - role:3
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
  - ev:7
  - ev:8
- id: fig:4
  name_or_label: Israelites / children of Israel
  description: The people described as possessing ornaments, worshipping the calf,
    receiving provisions, complaining about food, and being divided into tribes at
    the fountains.
  role_refs:
  - role:4
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
  - ev:4
  - ev:7
  - ev:8
- id: fig:5
  name_or_label: angel Gabriel
  description: A heavenly figure whose horse marched at the head of the people; dust
    from the horse's footsteps is said to animate the calf.
  role_refs:
  - role:5
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: fig:6
  name_or_label: God
  description: The divine speaker and actor who provides food, gives commands, sends
    punishment, provides water, and is heard by the seventy men in the note.
  role_refs:
  - role:6
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
  - ev:4
  - ev:5
  - ev:6
  - ev:7
  - ev:8
- id: fig:7
  name_or_label: Levites
  description: Named in the note as those ordered to slay every man his brother after
    the calf episode.
  role_refs:
  - role:7
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:2
- id: fig:8
  name_or_label: seventy men
  description: Men chosen by Moses who heard God's voice, demanded to see God, were
    struck dead, and were restored to life.
  role_refs:
  - role:8
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: fig:9
  name_or_label: the ungodly
  description: Those who changed the commanded expression and received indignation
    from heaven.
  role_refs:
  - role:9
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:6
roles:
- id: role:1
  label: calf-maker and animator
  assigned_to:
  - fig:1
  basis: He casts the calf from ornaments and throws dust into its mouth, after which
    it lows and becomes animated.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: role:2
  label: temporary commander
  assigned_to:
  - fig:2
  basis: Aaron is said to have commanded in Moses's absence and ordered the ornaments
    collected.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: role:3
  label: leader and intercessor
  assigned_to:
  - fig:3
  basis: Moses asks for drink, answers the food complaint, and intercedes for the
    seventy men.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
  - ev:7
  - ev:8
- id: role:4
  label: recipient community and transgressing community
  assigned_to:
  - fig:4
  basis: The people receive provisions and water but are also described as worshipping
    the calf and complaining about food.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
  - ev:4
  - ev:7
  - ev:8
- id: role:5
  label: heavenly agent associated with animating dust
  assigned_to:
  - fig:5
  basis: Dust from the footsteps of Gabriel's horse is said to have the virtue that
    animates the calf.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: role:6
  label: divine provider, commander, and judge
  assigned_to:
  - fig:6
  basis: God provides manna, quails, and water; commands entry and speech; and sends
    indignation or punishment for transgression.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
  - ev:5
  - ev:6
  - ev:7
  - ev:8
- id: role:7
  label: punitive executors
  assigned_to:
  - fig:7
  basis: The note says Moses ordered the Levites to slay every man his brother.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:2
- id: role:8
  label: demanders of divine sight
  assigned_to:
  - fig:8
  basis: They hear God's voice, demand to see God, are struck dead, and are restored
    to life.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: role:9
  label: command-altering transgressors
  assigned_to:
  - fig:9
  basis: They change the expression spoken to them and are punished from heaven.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:6
symbols:
- id: sym:1
  label: golden calf image
  literal_form: A calf formed from melted ornaments of gold, silver, and other materials;
    it lows and becomes animated after dust is thrown into its mouth.
  associated_figures:
  - fig:1
  - fig:4
  - fig:5
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: sym:2
  label: dust from Gabriel's horse footsteps
  literal_form: Dust taken from the footsteps of the horse of the angel Gabriel and
    thrown into the calf's mouth.
  associated_figures:
  - fig:1
  - fig:5
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: sym:3
  label: dark cloud
  literal_form: A cloud sent by God to prevent those executing punishment from seeing
    one another.
  associated_figures:
  - fig:6
  - fig:7
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:2
- id: sym:4
  label: lightning
  literal_form: Lightning that strikes the seventy men dead after they demand to see
    God.
  associated_figures:
  - fig:6
  - fig:8
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: sym:5
  label: overshadowing clouds
  literal_form: Clouds caused to overshadow the people.
  associated_figures:
  - fig:4
  - fig:6
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
- id: sym:6
  label: manna and quails
  literal_form: Food caused to descend for the people.
  associated_figures:
  - fig:4
  - fig:6
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
- id: sym:7
  label: city gate and forgiveness formula
  literal_form: A city gate to be entered worshipping, together with the spoken word
    of forgiveness.
  associated_figures:
  - fig:4
  - fig:6
  - fig:9
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:5
  - ev:6
- id: sym:8
  label: rock struck by rod
  literal_form: A rock struck by Moses's rod to produce water.
  associated_figures:
  - fig:3
  - fig:6
  taxonomy_refs:
  - water
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
- id: sym:9
  label: twelve fountains
  literal_form: Twelve fountains gushing from the rock, corresponding to the tribes'
    drinking-places.
  associated_figures:
  - fig:3
  - fig:4
  - fig:6
  taxonomy_refs:
  - water
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
- id: sym:10
  label: earthly foods requested
  literal_form: Herbs, cucumbers, garlic, lentils, and onions requested instead of
    one kind of food.
  associated_figures:
  - fig:3
  - fig:4
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:8
scenes:
- id: scene:1
  label: Casting and animation of the calf
  summary: Al Smeri melts collected ornaments into the form of a calf; the Israelites
    worship it, and dust from Gabriel's horse is placed in its mouth so that it lows
    and becomes animated.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:1
  - fig:2
  - fig:4
  - fig:5
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:1
  - sym:2
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: scene:2
  label: Punitive slaying after the calf episode
  summary: A note compares the narration to Moses ordering the Levites to slay their
    brothers and adds that a dark cloud was sent to prevent compassion during the
    execution of the sentence.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:3
  - fig:6
  - fig:7
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:3
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:2
- id: scene:3
  label: Seventy men struck dead and restored
  summary: Seventy men chosen by Moses hear God's voice, demand to see God, are struck
    dead by lightning, and are restored to life through Moses's intercession.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:3
  - fig:6
  - fig:8
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:4
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: scene:4
  label: Clouds, manna, and quails
  summary: God overshadows the people with clouds and sends down manna and quails
    as food.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:4
  - fig:6
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:5
  - sym:6
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
- id: scene:5
  label: Command to enter the city and altered expression
  summary: The people are commanded to enter a city gate worshipping and ask forgiveness;
    the ungodly alter the expression and are punished from heaven.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:4
  - fig:6
  - fig:9
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:7
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:5
  - ev:6
- id: scene:6
  label: Water from the rock
  summary: Moses asks for drink, is commanded to strike the rock with his rod, and
    twelve fountains emerge for the tribes' drinking-places.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:3
  - fig:4
  - fig:6
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:8
  - sym:9
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
- id: scene:7
  label: Complaint about food and divine indignation
  summary: The people ask Moses to pray for earth-grown foods; Moses rebukes the exchange
    of better for worse, and the people are described as punished for unbelief, killing
    prophets, rebellion, and transgression.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:3
  - fig:4
  - fig:6
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:10
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
  label: Animated idol made from communal ornaments
  taxonomy_refs: []
  basis: The calf is formed from collected ornaments, receives dust from Gabriel's
    horse, lows, becomes animated, and is worshipped.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
  confidence: medium
  cautions: The animation detail appears in the translator's note and cited commentary,
    not in the translated Qur'anic verses in this line range.
- id: motif:2
  label: Divine judgment for transgression
  taxonomy_refs:
  - divine_judgment
  basis: 'The passage repeatedly describes punishment or indignation after transgression:
    the calf episode, the altered expression, and the rejection of God''s signs and
    provisions.'
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:2
  - ev:6
  - ev:8
  confidence: high
  cautions: The specific punishments vary across note and translated text.
- id: motif:3
  label: Death and restoration after demanding divine vision
  taxonomy_refs:
  - resurrection
  basis: The seventy men demand to see God, are struck dead by lightning, and are
    restored to life through Moses's intercession.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
  confidence: high
  cautions: This is in a translator note attributed to commentators rather than in
    the translated verses excerpted below it.
- id: motif:4
  label: Miraculous provision in wilderness
  taxonomy_refs: []
  basis: God overshadows the people with clouds, sends manna and quails, and provides
    water from the rock.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
  - ev:7
  confidence: high
  cautions: No exact available motif-family taxonomy ref matches miraculous provision.
- id: motif:5
  label: Water from rock for tribal groups
  taxonomy_refs: []
  basis: Moses is commanded to strike the rock with his rod, twelve fountains gush
    out, and each tribe knows its drinking-place.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
  confidence: high
  cautions: The available taxonomy contains the symbol water but no specific motif-family
    ref for water from rock.
- id: motif:6
  label: Exchange of divine provision for inferior earthly foods
  taxonomy_refs: []
  basis: The people ask for herbs, cucumbers, garlic, lentils, and onions instead
    of one food, and Moses rebukes the exchange of better for worse.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:8
  confidence: medium
  cautions: The passage frames the exchange morally but does not develop a broader
    comparative motif by itself.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
  claim: The calf episode is explicitly linked by the notes to the Moses and Exodus
    golden-calf tradition, including a calf formed from ornaments.
  claim_level: same_motif
  target: Exodus / Moses golden calf tradition
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
  counter_evidence_refs: []
  confidence: medium
  limitations: The line range contains translator notes and citations, not a full
    side-by-side comparison; the note also identifies al Smeri rather than Aaron as
    the calf-maker.
- id: claim:2
  claim: The punitive slaying after the calf episode is explicitly compared in the
    note with the Mosaic account of Levites slaying their brothers, while the note
    also reports differing numbers of the slain.
  claim_level: same_motif
  target: Exodus 32 punitive slaying after calf worship
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:2
  counter_evidence_refs:
  - ev:2
  confidence: medium
  limitations: The note states agreement in the basic event but emphasizes numerical
    variation between scripture, the Vulgate, and Qur'anic commentators.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
  type: summary
  locator: 9025-9045, translator note l
  quote_or_summary: Al Smeri, not Aaron, is said to cast a calf from ornaments; Israelites
    worship it; dust from Gabriel's horse's footsteps thrown into its mouth makes
    it low and become animated.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
  type: summary
  locator: 9046-9054, translator note m
  quote_or_summary: The note says the narration agrees with Moses ordering Levites
    to slay every man his brother, but reports differing counts of the slain and adds
    that God sent a dark cloud to prevent compassion.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
  type: summary
  locator: 9055-9059, translator note n
  quote_or_summary: Seventy men chosen by Moses heard God's voice, demanded to see
    God, were struck dead by lightning, and were restored to life on Moses's intercession.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
  type: quote
  locator: 9067-9069
  quote_or_summary: '"we caused clouds to overshadow you, and manna and quails ...
    to descend upon you"'
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt.
- id: ev:5
  type: summary
  locator: 9070-9073
  quote_or_summary: God commands the people to enter a city, eat freely, enter the
    gate worshipping, and say 'Forgiveness' so their sins may be pardoned.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
  type: summary
  locator: 9074-9076
  quote_or_summary: The ungodly change the commanded expression, and indignation from
    heaven is sent down because they transgressed.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
  type: quote
  locator: 9077-9081
  quote_or_summary: '"Strike the rock with thy rod; and there gushed thereout twelve
    fountains"'
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt.
- id: ev:8
  type: summary
  locator: 9082-9084 and following sentence in supplied passage
  quote_or_summary: The people ask Moses for produce such as herbs, cucumbers, garlic,
    lentils, and onions; Moses rebukes the exchange of better for worse, and they
    incur vileness, misery, and indignation from God for unbelief and transgression.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
  extraction: high
  motif_candidates: medium
  comparison_claims: medium
  notes: Literal extraction is supported by the supplied passage. Some motif candidates
    rely on translator notes rather than the translated Qur'anic verses in the excerpt.
    Comparison claims are limited to comparisons explicitly made or cited within the
    passage notes.
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. Taxonomy refs were assigned only where the provided taxonomy appeared directly applicable.
  batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
  custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l9025-l9084
  passage_sha256=9c39a07a3605eddf85b1e8a752502e25a95edcded80df69b9e50d5f967349c35