batch.motif.roman-ovid-metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley-gutenberg-l9901-l9983
---
record_id: batch.motif.roman-ovid-metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley-gutenberg-l9901-l9983
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
passage_locator:
label: EXPLANATION. / BOOK THE SIXTH. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 9901-9983
start: '9901'
end: '9983'
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: "“For ever may you live in that pool.”"
summary: An internal speaker recounts a Lycian tradition explaining an altar in
a lake. A guide says the altar belongs to Latona, who, after bearing her twins
and fleeing Juno, came thirsty to a Lycian lake. Local countrymen refused her
water, threatened her, and muddied the lake. Latona cursed them to live forever
in the pool, and they became frogs. Footnotes add rationalizing information about
the Chimera and report a variant tradition in Antoninus Liberalis.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: An internal narrator says he has seen the pool, lake, and an ancient altar
standing in the middle of the lake.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: A Lycian guide whispers a propitiatory formula at the lake altar and identifies
the altar as belonging to Latona rather than to Naiads, Faunus, or a native mountain
divinity.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The guide says Juno banished Latona from the world, Delos received her, and
Latona gave birth to twins while leaning against a palm and the tree of Pallas.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Latona, carrying her two divine children and suffering heat, thirst, and exhausted
breasts, saw a lake in a Lycian valley where countrymen were gathering wetland
plants.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Latona bent her knee to take cool water, but the countrymen forbade her.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Latona argued that water, like sun and air, is common to all and asked only
to relieve her thirst, while her children stretched out their arms from her bosom.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: The countrymen continued to prevent her, added threats and abusive language,
and stirred up mud in the lake with their hands and feet.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Latona stopped supplicating, raised her hands to heaven, and uttered the wish
that the countrymen live forever in the pool.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: The countrymen’s transformation is described through aquatic habits, hoarse
voices, swollen necks, green backs, white bellies, and leaping in the muddy stream
as new-made frogs.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: A footnote describes the Chimera as poetically a lion-goat-dragon monster
and rationalizes it as a volcanic Lycian mountain associated with flame, lions,
goats, caverns, and serpents.
category: other
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:11
text: A footnote reports variant details from Probus and Antoninus Liberalis, including
names for the spring or stream and a version in which Latona sought water to bathe
her children and the peasants were changed into frogs.
category: other
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: internal narrator
description: One of the speakers who reports hearing the local explanation and claims
to have seen the lake and altar.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Lycian guide
description: A guide from Lycia who whispers propitiation at the altar and recounts
the story of Latona and the rustics.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Latona
description: A goddess, called the Titaness and daughter of Cæus, banished by Juno,
mother of twin divinities, thirsty supplicant at the Lycian lake, and speaker
of the curse.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Latona’s twin children
description: Two divine children carried in Latona’s bosom, whose arms are held
out during her plea for water.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Lycian countrymen or rustics
description: People at the lake gathering wetland plants, refusing Latona water,
speaking abusively, muddying the lake, and becoming frogs.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Juno
description: The goddess said to have banished Latona from the world and to be the
hostile stepmother opposing Latona’s childbirth and flight.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Chimera
description: A Lycian creature or feature described in a footnote as poetically
lion, goat, and dragon, and rationalized as a volcanic mountain.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
roles:
- id: role:1
label: eyewitness reporter
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The speaker says he saw the pool, lake, and altar on the spot.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: local ritual informant
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The guide performs a propitiatory whisper and explains to whom the altar
belongs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: banished divine mother and supplicant
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Latona is described as banished by Juno, carrying her children, thirsty,
and humbly requesting water.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:4
label: divine children
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The twins are called divinities and are carried by Latona during her flight
and plea.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: inhospitable offenders and punished transgressors
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The rustics deny water, abuse Latona, muddy the lake, and are transformed
after her curse.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: persecuting goddess
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Juno is said to have banished Latona and opposed her as stepmother.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:7
label: divine judge and curse speaker
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Latona raises her hands to heaven, utters a wish against the rustics, and
the wish comes to pass.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: lake water
literal_form: lake, pool, cool water, running stream
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:2
label: altar in the lake
literal_form: ancient altar black with ashes of sacrifices in the middle of a lake
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: birth trees
literal_form: palm and tree of Pallas beside which Latona gave birth
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:4
label: twins
literal_form: two divine children in Latona’s bosom
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: muddying of the water
literal_form: soft mud raised from the bottom of the lake by hands and feet
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: sym:6
label: frogs
literal_form: new-made frogs with hoarse voices, swollen necks, green backs, and
white bellies
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:7
label: wetland plants
literal_form: quivering reeds, osiers, bulrushes, and sedge
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: sym:8
label: raised hands to heaven
literal_form: gesture of raising hands to heaven before uttering the curse
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:9
label: Chimera landscape
literal_form: lion-goat-dragon monster rationalized as volcanic mountain with flame,
caverns, and serpents
associated_figures:
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
- mountain
- cave
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Visit to the lake altar
summary: The internal narrator describes reaching a Lycian lake with a sacrificial
altar, where the guide whispers a plea for divine favor.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Guide identifies Latona’s altar and recounts her birth of twins
summary: The guide says the altar belongs to Latona, who was banished by Juno, received
by Delos, and gave birth to twins beside sacred trees.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Latona asks for water
summary: Latona, exhausted and thirsty while carrying her children, approaches a
Lycian lake and pleads for a drink on the grounds that water is a common bounty
of nature.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:4
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Countrymen refuse and pollute the lake
summary: The rustics reject Latona’s request, threaten and abuse her, and stir up
the lake’s mud to prevent her from drinking.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Latona curses the rustics and they become frogs
summary: Latona raises her hands to heaven and wishes the offenders to live forever
in the pool; the wish takes effect, and the men acquire frog-like behavior and
bodies.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:6
label: Explanatory footnotes
summary: The notes rationalize the Chimera as a Lycian volcanic mountain and report
variant ancient names and details for the Latona water-refusal episode.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:6
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Divine punishment for denying water to a goddess
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Latona asks for water, the rustics refuse and abuse her, and her curse causes
them to live in the pool as frogs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The passage frames the punishment as a divine wish or curse rather than
a formal trial or legal judgment.
- id: motif:2
label: Human-to-animal transformation after offense
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
basis: The countrymen’s bodies and habits change into those of frogs after Latona’s
curse.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The transformation is imposed by a goddess; it is not voluntary shapeshifting.
- id: motif:3
label: Sacred birth of divine twins
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_birth
- divine_parent_child
basis: Latona gives birth to twin divinities on Delos while leaning against a palm
and the tree of Pallas.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: The birth is recounted as background to the main water-refusal episode.
- id: motif:4
label: Persecuted divine mother in flight with children
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_parent_child
basis: Latona is said to flee Juno while carrying her two divine children and suffering
thirst and exhaustion.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: No more specific available taxonomy family directly matches the persecuted
mother motif.
- id: motif:5
label: Refusal of common natural bounty
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: Latona states that nature made water, sun, and air common to all, yet the
rustics deny her a drink and muddy the water.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The available taxonomy ref is approximate; the passage emphasizes denial
of access rather than an explicit reciprocal exchange.
- id: motif:6
label: Monster rationalized as landscape
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
basis: The footnote contrasts the poetic Chimera as a lion-goat-dragon monster with
an explanation as a volcanic Lycian mountain inhabited by animals including serpents.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: low
cautions: This is in explanatory annotation, not in the main mythic narration, and
the available taxonomy ref captures only one element of the Chimera description.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The footnote reports an Antoninus Liberalis version that shares the core
pattern of Latona being refused water and the peasants being changed into frogs.
claim_level: same_motif
target: Antoninus Liberalis variant of the Latona water-refusal episode
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: 'The reported variant differs in details: Latona seeks water for bathing
her children, travels to the river Xanthus, returns, hurls stones, and then changes
the peasants into frogs.'
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 9901-9914
quote_or_summary: The narrator reports seeing the Lycian pool, lake, and a sacrificial
altar in the lake; the guide whispers a propitiatory plea.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short summary used.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 9914-9924
quote_or_summary: The guide identifies the altar as Latona’s, recounting Juno’s
banishment, Delos receiving Latona, and the birth of twins beside a palm and the
tree of Pallas.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short summary used.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 9924-9934
quote_or_summary: Latona flees with her two children, becomes thirsty in hot Lycia,
sees a lake in a valley, and approaches while countrymen gather osiers, bulrushes,
and sedge.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short summary used.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 9934-9951
quote_or_summary: Latona asks why the rustics deny her water, says water is common
like sun and air, asks only to drink, and points to the children stretching out
their arms.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short summary used.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 9952-9959
quote_or_summary: The rustics continue to hinder Latona, add threats and abuse,
and muddy the lake with their hands and feet.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short summary used.
- id: ev:6
type: quote
locator: lines 9959-9964
quote_or_summary: Latona raises her hands to heaven and says, “For ever may you
live in that pool”; the wish comes to pass.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation used.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 9964-9976
quote_or_summary: The transformed rustics delight in the water, continue abusive
speech beneath it, develop hoarse voices, swollen necks, green backs, white bellies,
and leap as new-made frogs.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short summary used.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: footnote 45, lines 9978-9987
quote_or_summary: The Chimera is described as poetically lion, goat, and dragon,
but explained as a volcanic Lycian mountain with flame, lions, goats, caverns,
and serpents.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short summary used.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: footnote 46, lines 9989-9997
quote_or_summary: The note reports Probus’s names for the spring and shepherd and
Antoninus Liberalis’s variant in which Latona seeks water to bathe her children
and changes peasants into frogs.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short summary used.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: Main narrative extraction is direct. Motif taxonomy assignments are strongest
for divine judgment, transformation, and sacred birth; sacred exchange and Chimera-related
motif assignment are more approximate. The comparison claim is limited to the
footnote’s report of Antoninus Liberalis.
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 source metadata were used. Footnote material is included as annotation-derived evidence and separated from the main narrative where relevant.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:roman-ovid-metamorphoses-books-1-7-riley-gutenberg__l9901-l9983
passage_sha256=cecbf11c507247c1d7b86a349f62e16db2adebb3a9351962c469d74dfa97ffd8