batch.motif.roman-ovid-metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley-gutenberg-l1882-l1949
---
record_id: batch.motif.roman-ovid-metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley-gutenberg-l1882-l1949
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
passage_locator:
label: EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 1882-1949
start: '1882'
end: '1949'
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: After Erisicthon fells a tree and damages a grove, the Dryads appeal to
Ceres for punishment. Ceres sends the mountain deity Oreas in a dragon-drawn chariot
to Scythia to command Famine to enter Erisicthon. Famine infects him in his sleep,
and he wakes with an insatiable hunger that increases with every meal, compared
to the ocean receiving rivers and fire consuming fuel.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Erisicthon pursues a design that results in a tree being pulled down with
ropes after many blows.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The falling tree levels a large part of the wood, and the Dryads grieve over
the loss of the grove.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The Dryads, dressed in black, go to Ceres and request Erisicthon's punishment.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: Ceres assents and chooses Famine as the punishment for Erisicthon.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Ceres says that the Destinies do not allow Ceres and Famine to come together
directly.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: Ceres sends Oreas to an icy, desolate region of Scythia and gives her a dragon-drawn
chariot for the journey.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: Oreas finds Famine on Caucasus in a stony field, tearing up sparse herbs with
nails and teeth.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Famine is described as emaciated, pale, hollow-eyed, with visible bowels,
projecting bones, and stiff joints.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: Famine enters Erisicthon's bedchamber at night while he sleeps and breathes
hunger into his body.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: In sleep, Erisicthon dreams of eating, moves his jaws, grinds his teeth, and
devours only air.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: When Erisicthon wakes, his desire for food is overpowering, and no amount
of food is sufficient for him.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:12
text: Erisicthon's appetite is compared to the ocean receiving rivers without satiety
and to fire that becomes more voracious with more fuel.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Erisicthon
description: A sacrilegious man who fells the tree and is punished with insatiable
hunger.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Dryads
description: Sister nymphs of the grove who grieve the tree's loss and ask Ceres
to punish Erisicthon.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Ceres
description: A goddess who assents to the Dryads' request and arranges Famine as
Erisicthon's punishment.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Oreas
description: A rustic mountain deity sent by Ceres to deliver commands to Famine.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Famine
description: A personified being dwelling in a desolate Scythian region; she enters
Erisicthon and fills him with hunger.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Dragons
description: Beings yoked to Ceres' chariot and guided through the air by Oreas.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Sleep
description: A personified or figurative presence that soothes Erisicthon while
he is still under its influence.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
roles:
- id: role:1
label: sacrilegious offender
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage calls Erisicthon sacrilegious and connects his offense with the
felled tree and damaged grove.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: grieving petitioners
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The Dryads grieve the grove and request punishment from Ceres.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: divine judge or punisher
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Ceres assents to the Dryads' request and contrives the punishment of Famine.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: divine messenger
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Oreas is addressed by Ceres and sent to command Famine.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: personified punitive agent
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Famine carries out Ceres' command by entering Erisicthon and filling him
with hunger.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:6
label: recipient of punishment
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Famine is ordered to bury herself in Erisicthon's breast, and he becomes
insatiably hungry.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:7
label: aerial chariot animals
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The dragons draw the chariot used by Oreas to travel aloft.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:8
label: sleeping-state presence
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Sleep continues soothing Erisicthon while he dreams of food.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: felled tree
literal_form: Tree cut down with blows and ropes, causing damage to the wood and
grief among the Dryads.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: black array
literal_form: Black clothing worn by the Dryads while grieving and petitioning Ceres.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: dragon-drawn chariot
literal_form: Ceres' chariot drawn by dragons and guided through the air by Oreas.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: icy desolate Scythia
literal_form: A cold, barren region without corn or trees where Famine dwells.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: Caucasus mountain
literal_form: A steep mountain where Oreas unyokes the dragons and sees Famine.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:6
label: Famine's wings
literal_form: Two wings with which Famine embraces the sleeping Erisicthon.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:7
label: ocean receiving rivers
literal_form: Ocean taking in rivers from the whole earth without becoming satiated
with water.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:8
label: devouring fire
literal_form: Fire consuming beams of wood without number and craving more fuel
as more is given.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Tree felling and Dryad petition
summary: Erisicthon's tree-felling damages the grove; the Dryads mourn and ask Ceres
for punishment.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Ceres commissions Oreas
summary: Ceres agrees to punish Erisicthon with Famine but sends Oreas because Ceres
and Famine cannot meet; she gives Oreas the dragon-drawn chariot.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Oreas encounters Famine
summary: Oreas travels to Scythia, reaches Caucasus, and sees the emaciated Famine
in a stony field before delivering Ceres' command from a distance.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Famine enters Erisicthon
summary: At night, Famine enters Erisicthon's bedchamber, embraces him in sleep,
breathes into him, and scatters hunger through his veins.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Insatiable hunger manifests
summary: Erisicthon dreams of eating, wakes ravenous, consumes vast quantities,
and remains unsatisfied; the passage compares him to ocean and fire.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Divine punishment after sacrilege
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: The Dryads appeal to Ceres after the grove's destruction, and Ceres arranges
a supernatural punishment for Erisicthon.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents punishment clearly, but broader legal or ritual context
is outside this excerpt.
- id: motif:2
label: Personified hunger as invading affliction
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Famine is personified, receives a divine command, enters the sleeping offender,
and fills his body with hunger.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy reference directly names personified famine or disease-like
possession.
- id: motif:3
label: Insatiable appetite as curse
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: After Famine's intervention, Erisicthon cannot be satisfied by food, and
eating only increases his desire.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The available motif list has no exact 'insatiable hunger' category.
- id: motif:4
label: Sacred tree violation and retribution
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: A felled tree and loss of the grove prompt Dryad grief and a request for
divine punishment.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage shows tree violation and divine response, but does not explicitly
identify the tree as a cosmic axis or use the supplied sacred_tree_axis motif.
- id: motif:5
label: Aerial divine errand in a dragon-drawn chariot
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Ceres gives Oreas a chariot with dragons to travel through the air to Famine's
remote dwelling.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: This is a travel mechanism in the passage rather than a fully developed
motif family in the supplied taxonomy.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: 'The passage itself likens Erisicthon''s unsatisfied appetite to natural
images of inexhaustible intake: the ocean receiving rivers and fire consuming
fuel.'
claim_level: same_function
target: insatiable consumption pattern represented by ocean and devouring fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: This is an internal simile within the passage, not evidence of historical
contact or common inheritance with another tradition.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 1882-1888
quote_or_summary: Erisicthon's tree is brought down with blows and ropes; the fallen
tree damages the wood, and the Dryads grieve, dress in black, and ask Ceres to
punish him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 1888-1897
quote_or_summary: 'Ceres assents to the Dryads'' request and devises a punishment:
deadly Famine; she states that the Destinies do not allow Ceres and Famine to
come together.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 1897-1905
quote_or_summary: Ceres instructs Oreas to go to a bleak region of Scythia where
Hunger dwells and gives her the chariot and dragons to guide aloft.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 1906-1924
quote_or_summary: Oreas reaches Scythia and Caucasus, unyokes the dragons, and sees
Famine in a stony field, emaciated and tearing sparse herbs with nails and teeth.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 1928-1936
quote_or_summary: Famine carries out Ceres' order, enters Erisicthon's bedchamber
at night, embraces him with her wings, breathes into him, and spreads hunger through
his veins.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 1937-1944
quote_or_summary: While asleep, Erisicthon dreams of food and vainly chews air;
when awake, his desire for eating is outrageous and no quantity of food is enough
for him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 1944-1949
quote_or_summary: The passage compares Erisicthon's jaws to the ocean that receives
rivers without satiety and to fire that grows more voracious with added fuel.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Literal extraction is well supported by the supplied passage. Motif taxonomy
mapping is conservative because several prominent elements, such as personified
Famine and insatiable hunger, lack exact supplied taxonomy references.
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: |-
No external sources or unprovided context used.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:roman-ovid-metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley-gutenberg__l1882-l1949
passage_sha256=7e3dfb21f3b71fc21dbd1a99930336e1326be2748725fd970779ec6022b2ead6