batch.motif.roman-ovid-metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley-gutenberg-l11917-l11982
---
record_id: batch.motif.roman-ovid-metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley-gutenberg-l11917-l11982
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
passage_locator:
label: EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 11917-11982
start: '11917'
end: '11982'
translation: The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Hersilia ascends the hill of Romulus with the virgin daughter of Thaumas.
A star falls from the sky to earth, sets Hersilia's hair ablaze, and she ascends
with the star to the sky. The founder of Rome receives her, changes her body and
former name, calls her Ora, and she remains united to Quirmus. The remainder of
the passage consists of translator's footnotes explaining references to Teucer,
Norican fire, funeral customs, Anaxarete, a return to youthful form, Mavors, a
melting sling-plummet, and temple couches for deities.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Hersilia goes up the hill of Romulus with the virgin daughter of Thaumas.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: A star falls from the skies to the earth.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The blaze from the star sets Hersilia's hair on fire.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: Hersilia ascends with the star to the skies.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:5
text: The founder of the Roman city receives Hersilia and changes both her body
and her former name.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: Hersilia is given the name Ora and is described as a goddess united to Quirmus.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:7
text: A footnote says Teucer was banished by Telamon after the Trojan war and founded
Salamis in Cyprus.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:8
text: A footnote describes Greek and Roman customs for relatives walking with a
corpse to a tomb or funeral pile.
category: other
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: A footnote says ancient writers believed a sling-thrown leaden plummet could
become red hot and even melt away from rapid motion.
category: other
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: A footnote describes pulvinaria as cushions or couches in temples for deities
and used in lectisternia festivals.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Hersilia
description: A woman whose hair is set on fire by a falling star and who ascends
to the sky; she is renamed Ora and described as a goddess.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: virgin daughter of Thaumas
description: A female figure who ascends the hill of Romulus with Hersilia.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: founder of the Roman city
description: The figure who receives Hersilia in the sky and changes her body and
name.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Quirmus
description: The figure to whom the goddess Ora is said to remain united.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Teucer
description: In a footnote, a returning Trojan-war figure banished by his father
and said to found Salamis in Cyprus.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Telamon
description: In a footnote, Teucer's father, who banishes Teucer.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
roles:
- id: role:1
label: ascending transformed woman
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Hersilia ascends with the star to the skies after her hair catches fire.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: renamed goddess
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage says she is called Ora and is a goddess united to Quirmus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: female companion on ascent to hill
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: She accompanies Hersilia up the hill of Romulus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:4
label: receiver and transformer
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: He receives Hersilia and changes her body and former name.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: divine consort or union partner
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Ora is described as still united to Quirmus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:6
label: exiled founder
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The footnote says Teucer is exiled and founds Salamis in Cyprus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:7
label: banishing father
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The footnote says Telamon banished Teucer.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: falling star
literal_form: A star falling from the skies to the earth, then accompanying Hersilia's
ascent.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: fire from star-blaze
literal_form: The blaze of the falling star sets Hersilia's hair on fire.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: hill of Romulus
literal_form: The hill of Romulus, where Hersilia ascends with the virgin daughter
of Thaumas.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:4
label: new divine name
literal_form: The name Ora given to Hersilia after her ascent and reception.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:5
label: temple couches for deities
literal_form: Pulvinaria, cushions or couches placed in temples for the gods.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Ascent from the hill of Romulus
summary: Hersilia ascends the hill with the virgin daughter of Thaumas; a star falls,
sets her hair ablaze, and she rises with it to the sky.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Reception and renaming in the sky
summary: The founder of Rome receives Hersilia, changes her body and name, calls
her Ora, and she is described as united to Quirmus.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Translator's explanatory notes
summary: The footnotes explain mythic and cultural references, including Teucer's
exile and foundation of Salamis, funeral customs, heated sling-shot, and pulvinaria.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: ascent to the sky with celestial fire
taxonomy_refs:
- ascent
basis: Hersilia's hair is ignited by a falling star and she ascends with the star
to the skies.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: high
cautions: The passage supports ascent clearly; broader labels such as apotheosis
are descriptive but not present in the supplied taxonomy.
- id: motif:2
label: human figure transformed and renamed as goddess
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The founder of the Roman city receives Hersilia, changes her body and former
name, calls her Ora, and the text calls Ora a goddess.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: No specific supplied taxonomy reference directly names apotheosis or divine
renaming.
- id: motif:3
label: divine union after transformation
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: After the transformation and renaming, Ora is described as still united to
Quirmus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage states union but does not narrate a marriage rite or describe
the nature of the union.
- id: motif:4
label: exile followed by city foundation
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: The footnote reports that Teucer was banished by his father, fled to Cyprus,
and founded Salamis.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: medium
cautions: This is in a translator's explanatory footnote rather than the main narrative
passage.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 11917-11922
quote_or_summary: Hersilia ascends the hill of Romulus with the virgin daughter
of Thaumas; a falling star reaches earth, ignites Hersilia's hair, and she ascends
with the star to the skies.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 11922-11925
quote_or_summary: The founder of the Roman city receives Hersilia, changes her body
and name, calls her Ora, and the passage says this goddess is still united to
Quirmus.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: Footnote 56, lines 11927-11934
quote_or_summary: Teucer returns after the Trojan war, is banished by Telamon for
not avenging Ajax, flees to Cyprus, and founds Salamis.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: Footnote 58, lines 11942-11952
quote_or_summary: The note describes Greek and Roman arrangements of male and female
relatives in funeral processions to a tomb or funeral pile.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: Footnote 62, lines 11973-11978
quote_or_summary: The note says ancients believed a leaden plummet from a sling
could grow red hot and even melt and disappear because of rapid motion.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: Footnote 63, lines 11980-11982
quote_or_summary: The note explains that pulvinaria were cushions or couches placed
in temples for the gods and used for divine images at lectisternia and in the
Roman Circus.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: The main narrative of Hersilia's ascent and transformation is clear. Footnotes
are secondary explanatory material and were treated separately. No comparison
claims were made because the passage itself does not support a direct comparative
claim beyond local explanations.
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: |-
The spelling 'Quirmus' is retained from the supplied passage. No unsupported identification of the virgin daughter of Thaumas was added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:roman-ovid-metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley-gutenberg__l11917-l11982
passage_sha256=4dfc265028ae3fb8beec1943c12cd88e83f41610245bc0fbc6fcff70f94cb72f