batch.motif.roman-ovid-metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley-gutenberg-l379-l400
---
record_id: batch.motif.roman-ovid-metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley-gutenberg-l379-l400
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
passage_locator:
label: BOOK IV. / BOOK V. / BOOK VI. / BOOK VII.; lines 379-400
start: '379'
end: '400'
translation: The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books I-VII
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: 'The passage summarizes Book VII: Jason, aided by Medea, overcomes fire-breathing
bulls, serpent-born warriors, and a dragon to recover the Golden Fleece. Medea
travels to Greece, restores Æson to youth, deceives Pelias with a ram-to-lamb
demonstration and kills him, later kills her children, marries Ægeus, and escapes
attempted poisoning. Minos wages war against Ægeus. The summary also notes transformations
involving Arne, the Myrmidons, Cephalus, a dog and fox, and the fatal javelin
that kills Procris.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Jason conquers bulls that breathe flames with Medea's aid.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Jason sows serpent teeth, from which armed men are produced.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Jason lulls a dragon to sleep and recovers the Golden Fleece.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Medea accompanies Jason to Greece and restores Æson to youth by drugs.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: Medea changes a ram into a lamb as a specimen before killing Pelias by stratagem.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: Medea kills her children, marries Ægeus, and narrowly escapes being poisoned
by her magic potions.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: Minos interrupts Ægeus's joy at Theseus's return and wages war against him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: Arne has been changed into a jackdaw.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: Æacus refuses Minos's alliance and sends the Myrmidons, who had been changed
into ants from men after a severe pestilence, to assist Ægeus.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: Cephalus relates that Aurora carried him off and that he assumed another shape
to test Procris.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: Cephalus receives a dog and a javelin from Procris; the dog and a fox are
changed into stone, and the javelin inadvertently kills Procris.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Jason
description: A figure aided by Medea who overcomes bulls, serpent-born armed men,
and a dragon and recovers the Golden Fleece.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Medea
description: Jason's helper; later restores Æson to youth, deceives and kills Pelias,
kills her children, marries Ægeus, and escapes poisoning.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Fire-breathing bulls
description: Bulls that breathe forth flames and are conquered by Jason.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Serpent-born armed men
description: Armed men produced from the teeth of a serpent sown by Jason.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Dragon
description: A dragon lulled to sleep before Jason recovers the Golden Fleece.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Æson
description: A figure restored to youth by Medea's drugs.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Pelias
description: A figure promised rejuvenation by Medea and then killed by her stratagem.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Ægeus
description: Medea's later husband; rejoices at Theseus's return and is opposed
by Minos.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Theseus
description: The returning son of Ægeus.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Minos
description: A figure who wages war against Ægeus and seeks alliances.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Arne
description: A figure changed into a jackdaw.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Æacus
description: A figure who refuses Minos's alliance and sends the Myrmidons to assist
Ægeus.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Myrmidons
description: A group changed into ants from men after a severe pestilence, later
sent to assist Ægeus.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:14
name_or_label: Cephalus
description: A figure sent with the Myrmidons who relates his abduction by Aurora
and the death of Procris.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:15
name_or_label: Phocus
description: Son of Æacus and listener to Cephalus's account.
role_refs:
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:16
name_or_label: Aurora
description: A figure who carries off Cephalus.
role_refs:
- role:15
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:17
name_or_label: Procris
description: Cephalus's wife, tested by him, giver of a dog and javelin, and killed
inadvertently by the javelin.
role_refs:
- role:16
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:18
name_or_label: Dog and fox
description: A dog received from Procris and a fox are changed into stone.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
roles:
- id: role:1
label: questing recoverer
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Jason overcomes obstacles and recovers the Golden Fleece.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:2
label: magical helper
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Medea aids Jason and uses drugs and magic potions.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: role:3
label: deceptive killer
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Medea kills Pelias by stratagem and kills her children.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:4
label: ordeal opponent
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
basis: The bulls, armed men, and dragon are obstacles Jason must overcome.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: rejuvenated elder
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Æson is restored to youth by Medea's drugs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:6
label: deceived victim
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Pelias is promised rejuvenation and killed by Medea's stratagem.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:7
label: king opposed in war
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Minos wages war against Ægeus after Theseus's return.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:8
label: returning son
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Theseus returns home to Ægeus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:9
label: war-maker seeking alliance
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Minos wages war and seeks Æacus's alliance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: role:10
label: transformed being
assigned_to:
- fig:11
- fig:18
basis: Arne becomes a jackdaw; the dog and fox become stone.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:11
- id: role:11
label: alliance refuser
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: Æacus refuses Minos's alliance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:12
label: transformed troops
assigned_to:
- fig:13
basis: The Myrmidons are men changed into ants and then sent to assist Ægeus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:13
label: narrator of personal misfortune
assigned_to:
- fig:14
basis: Cephalus relates his abduction, disguise, and Procris's death.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: role:14
label: listener
assigned_to:
- fig:15
basis: Cephalus relates his story to Phocus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:15
label: abductor
assigned_to:
- fig:16
basis: Aurora carries off Cephalus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:16
label: tested spouse and accidental victim
assigned_to:
- fig:17
basis: Procris is tested for faithlessness and later killed inadvertently by a javelin.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: flame-breathing bulls
literal_form: Bulls that breathe forth flames
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: serpent teeth
literal_form: Teeth of a serpent sown by Jason
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: dragon
literal_form: Dragon lulled to sleep
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: Golden Fleece
literal_form: Golden Fleece recovered by Jason
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: rejuvenating drugs
literal_form: Drugs used by Medea to restore Æson to youth
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:6
label: ram changed into lamb
literal_form: A ram changed into a lamb as a specimen
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:7
label: magic potions
literal_form: Magic potions associated with attempted poisoning of Medea
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:8
label: jackdaw transformation
literal_form: Arne changed into a jackdaw
associated_figures:
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:9
label: ant transformation
literal_form: Men changed into ants after a severe pestilence
associated_figures:
- fig:13
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:10
label: stone transformation
literal_form: A dog and fox changed into stone
associated_figures:
- fig:18
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: sym:11
label: fatal javelin
literal_form: A javelin received from Procris that inadvertently causes her death
associated_figures:
- fig:14
- fig:17
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Jason's ordeals and recovery of the Golden Fleece
summary: With Medea's aid, Jason conquers fire-breathing bulls, produces armed men
from serpent teeth, lulls a dragon to sleep, and recovers the Golden Fleece.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:2
label: Medea's rejuvenation and deception of Pelias
summary: Medea restores Æson to youth by drugs, demonstrates transformation by changing
a ram into a lamb, and kills Pelias by stratagem.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:3
label: Medea with Ægeus
summary: Medea kills her children, marries Ægeus, and narrowly escapes poisoning
by her magic potions.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: Minos's war and sought alliance
summary: Minos interrupts Ægeus's joy at Theseus's return, wages war, gathers troops,
and seeks the alliance of Æacus, who refuses and sends the Myrmidons to aid Ægeus.
figure_refs:
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:12
- fig:13
- fig:14
symbol_refs:
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: scene:5
label: Noted transformations during the wider itinerary
summary: The passage notes transformations including Arne into a jackdaw, men into
ants, and a dog and fox into stone.
figure_refs:
- fig:11
- fig:13
- fig:18
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
- sym:9
- sym:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:11
- id: scene:6
label: Cephalus's account of Aurora, Procris, and the javelin
summary: Cephalus tells Phocus that Aurora carried him off, that he assumed another
shape to test Procris, and that a javelin he received from Procris inadvertently
caused her death.
figure_refs:
- fig:14
- fig:15
- fig:16
- fig:17
symbol_refs:
- sym:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: heroic ordeal with monstrous guardians before recovery of a prized object
taxonomy_refs:
- mystical_quest
basis: Jason must overcome fire-breathing bulls, serpent-born armed men, and a dragon
before recovering the Golden Fleece.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage is a compressed summary and does not detail the full quest
structure.
- id: motif:2
label: serpent-associated generation and dragon obstacle
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
basis: The passage includes serpent teeth producing armed men and a dragon lulled
to sleep.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The dragon is mapped to the available serpent taxonomy only as a broad
serpent-like monster category.
- id: motif:3
label: magical rejuvenation and false rejuvenation trap
taxonomy_refs:
- death_rebirth
- shapeshifter
basis: Medea restores Æson to youth and changes a ram into a lamb before using the
promise of similar renewal to kill Pelias.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The text describes youth-restoration and transformation, but the death-rebirth
taxonomy is broader than the exact wording.
- id: motif:4
label: repeated transformations of humans and animals
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
basis: The passage notes transformations of a ram into a lamb, Arne into a jackdaw,
men into ants, Cephalus assuming another shape, and a dog and fox into stone.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: Some transformations are only briefly mentioned in the summary.
- id: motif:5
label: carried-off beloved or abducted figure
taxonomy_refs:
- stolen_beloved
basis: Cephalus is described as being carried off by Aurora.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not state Aurora's motive or frame Cephalus explicitly
as a beloved.
- id: motif:6
label: return of a son and disrupted joy
taxonomy_refs:
- return
basis: Theseus returns home, producing joy for Ægeus that Minos interrupts by war.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The return is mentioned only as context for the war.
- id: motif:7
label: accidental death by received weapon
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: A javelin received from Procris inadvertently causes Procris's death.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: No available taxonomy reference directly matches this motif.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: quote
locator: lines 379-400
quote_or_summary: '"Jason, by the aid of Medea, having conquered the bulls that
breathe forth flames"'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; short excerpt used for evidence.
- id: ev:2
type: quote
locator: lines 379-400
quote_or_summary: '"having sowed the teeth of a serpent, from which armed men are
produced"'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; short excerpt used for evidence.
- id: ev:3
type: quote
locator: lines 379-400
quote_or_summary: '"having lulled the dragon to sleep, recovers the Golden Fleece"'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; short excerpt used for evidence.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 379-400
quote_or_summary: Medea accompanies Jason to Greece and restores Æson to youth by
the aid of drugs.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 379-400
quote_or_summary: Medea promises the same renewal to Pelias, first changes a ram
into a lamb as a specimen, and kills him by stratagem.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 379-400
quote_or_summary: Medea passes through places known for transformations, kills her
children, marries Ægeus, and narrowly escapes being poisoned by her magic potions.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 379-400
quote_or_summary: Minos interrupts Ægeus's joy at his son's return and wages war
against him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 379-400
quote_or_summary: Minos collects troops even from Paros, where Arne has been changed
into a jackdaw.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 379-400
quote_or_summary: Æacus refuses Minos's alliance and sends the Myrmidons, changed
into ants from men after a severe pestilence, under Cephalus to assist Ægeus.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 379-400
quote_or_summary: Cephalus tells Phocus, son of Æacus, that Aurora carried him off
and that he assumed another shape to test Procris's faithfulness.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 379-400
quote_or_summary: Cephalus receives from Procris a dog and a javelin; the dog and
a fox are changed into stone, and the javelin inadvertently causes Procris's death.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: The passage is a high-level book summary, so extraction of named figures
and events is reliable, while motif assignment remains somewhat broad and requires
review against the full narrative.
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 comparisons were added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:roman-ovid-metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley-gutenberg__l379-l400
passage_sha256=e1997d5e8f0940ad898d29c80f5e80868326133aed578f6623dcb6409e0d7eb1