batch.motif.roman-ovid-metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley-gutenberg-l373-l392
---
record_id: batch.motif.roman-ovid-metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley-gutenberg-l373-l392
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
passage_locator:
label: BOOK XI. / BOOK XII. / BOOK XIII. / BOOK XIV.; lines 373-392
start: '373'
end: '392'
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: A prose argument for Book XIV lists episodes involving Circe's transformation
of Scylla, Aeneas' travels and wars, several transformations of humans, ships,
and cities into animals, trees, nymphs, or stone, the wooing of Pomona by Vertumnus
in disguise, warming waters through Naiads, and the deification of Aeneas, Romulus,
and Hersilia.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Circe changes Scylla into a monster.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Aeneas arrives in Africa, is entertained by Dido, passes the islands called
Pithecusae, and comes to Italy.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The Cecropes have been transformed from men into apes at the islands called
Pithecusae.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Aeneas learns from Macareus about Ulysses, Circe's incantations, and Picus'
transformation into a woodpecker.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Aeneas wages war with Turnus; Turnus asks Diomedes for assistance through
Venulus and is refused.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Diomedes' companions have been transformed into birds.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Venulus sees the spot where an Apulian shepherd had been changed into an olive
tree.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: The ships of Aeneas, when on fire, become sea Nymphs.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: A heron formerly arose from the flames of the city of Ardea.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Aeneas is made a deity, and other kings succeed him.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: Pomona lives in the time of Procas and is beloved by Vertumnus.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:12
text: Vertumnus first assumes the form of an old woman, tells the story of Anaxarete's
change into stone for cruelty, reassumes the shape of a youth, and prevails upon
Pomona.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:13
text: Cold waters become warm by the aid of the Naiads.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:14
text: Romulus is made a deity under the name Quirinus, while his wife Hersilia becomes
the Goddess Hora.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Circe
description: A figure associated with incantations who changes Scylla into a monster.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Scylla
description: A figure changed by Circe into a monster.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Aeneas
description: A traveler arriving in Africa and Italy, a war-leader against Turnus,
owner of the ships that become sea Nymphs, and later made a deity.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Dido
description: A host who entertains Aeneas in Africa.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Cecropes
description: A group transformed from men into apes.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Macareus
description: A figure from whom Aeneas learns particulars about Ulysses, Circe,
and Picus.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Ulysses
description: A figure about whom Macareus relates particulars.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Picus
description: A king changed into a woodpecker.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Turnus
description: A war opponent of Aeneas who asks Diomedes for assistance through Venulus.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Venulus
description: An emissary through whom Turnus asks assistance and who later sees
a transformation site.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Diomedes
description: A figure asked for assistance by Turnus and refusing it.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Diomedes' companions
description: Companions who have been transformed into birds.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Apulian shepherd
description: A shepherd changed into an olive tree.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:14
name_or_label: Ships of Aeneas
description: Ships that, when on fire, become sea Nymphs.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:15
name_or_label: Pomona
description: A goddess living in the time of Procas and beloved by Vertumnus.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:16
name_or_label: Vertumnus
description: A suitor of Pomona who assumes the form of an old woman, later reassumes
the shape of a youth, and prevails upon her.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:17
name_or_label: Anaxarete
description: A figure changed into stone for cruelty in a story told by Vertumnus.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:18
name_or_label: Naiads
description: Nymphs whose aid makes cold waters become warm.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:19
name_or_label: Romulus / Quirinus
description: Romulus, successor of Numitor, is made a deity under the name Quirinus.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:20
name_or_label: Hersilia / Hora
description: Wife of Romulus who becomes the Goddess Hora.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
roles:
- id: role:1
label: transforming or magical agent
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:18
basis: Circe changes Scylla and is linked to incantations; the Naiads aid the warming
of cold waters.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:9
- id: role:2
label: transformed figure or group
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:5
- fig:8
- fig:12
- fig:13
- fig:14
- fig:17
basis: These figures or groups are explicitly said to be changed into another form.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: role:3
label: traveler and war leader
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Aeneas arrives in Africa, comes to Italy, and wages war with Turnus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: role:4
label: host
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Dido entertains Aeneas in Africa.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: informant
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Aeneas learns from Macareus many particulars.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:6
label: requester of military assistance
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Turnus asks assistance of Diomedes through Venulus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:7
label: emissary and witness
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Venulus carries Turnus' request and, on return, sees the transformation site
of the Apulian shepherd.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:8
label: refusing ally
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: Diomedes is asked for assistance and refuses.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:9
label: beloved goddess
assigned_to:
- fig:15
basis: Pomona is called a Goddess and is beloved by Vertumnus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:10
label: disguised suitor
assigned_to:
- fig:16
basis: Vertumnus assumes an old woman's form, then the shape of a youth, in his
pursuit of Pomona.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:11
label: deified figure
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:19
- fig:20
basis: Aeneas is made a deity; Romulus becomes Quirinus; Hersilia becomes Hora.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: monster form
literal_form: Scylla changed into a monster
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: ape form
literal_form: Cecropes transformed from men into apes
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: woodpecker form
literal_form: King Picus changed into a woodpecker
associated_figures:
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: bird transformation
literal_form: Diomedes' companions transformed into birds
associated_figures:
- fig:12
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: olive tree transformation
literal_form: Apulian shepherd changed into an olive tree
associated_figures:
- fig:13
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: fire at sea transformation
literal_form: Ships of Aeneas on fire become sea Nymphs
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:14
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:7
label: heron from flames
literal_form: A heron arose from the flames of Ardea
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:8
label: stone transformation
literal_form: Anaxarete changed into a stone for cruelty
associated_figures:
- fig:17
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:9
label: assumed old woman form
literal_form: Vertumnus assumes the form of an old woman
associated_figures:
- fig:16
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:10
label: reassumed youth form
literal_form: Vertumnus reassumes the shape of a youth
associated_figures:
- fig:16
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:11
label: warming waters
literal_form: Cold waters become warm by the aid of the Naiads
associated_figures:
- fig:18
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:12
label: new divine names
literal_form: Romulus becomes Quirinus and Hersilia becomes Hora
associated_figures:
- fig:19
- fig:20
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Circe and Scylla
summary: Circe changes Scylla into a monster.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Aeneas' travel from Africa to Italy
summary: Aeneas is entertained by Dido in Africa, passes the Pithecusae where the
Cecropes became apes, and comes to Italy.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Macareus' report to Aeneas
summary: Near Caieta, Aeneas learns from Macareus about Ulysses, Circe's incantations,
and Picus' change into a woodpecker.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Turnus seeks Diomedes' aid
summary: During war with Aeneas, Turnus uses Venulus to seek aid from Diomedes,
whose companions have become birds; Diomedes refuses.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:12
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Venulus sees the olive-tree transformation site
summary: On his return, Venulus sees the place where an Apulian shepherd had been
changed into an olive tree.
figure_refs:
- fig:10
- fig:13
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:6
label: Ships and flames transformed
summary: Aeneas' burning ships become sea Nymphs, and a heron is said to have arisen
from Ardea's flames.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:14
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:7
label: Aeneas' apotheosis
summary: Aeneas is made a deity, after which other kings succeed him.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:8
label: Vertumnus courts Pomona
summary: Vertumnus, loving Pomona, takes the form of an old woman, tells of Anaxarete's
petrifaction for cruelty, returns to youthful form, and prevails upon Pomona.
figure_refs:
- fig:15
- fig:16
- fig:17
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
- sym:9
- sym:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:9
label: Warming waters and deification of Romulus and Hersilia
summary: Naiads make cold waters warm; Romulus becomes Quirinus and Hersilia becomes
Hora.
figure_refs:
- fig:18
- fig:19
- fig:20
symbol_refs:
- sym:11
- sym:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Repeated metamorphosis of persons or objects into animals, plants, stone,
divine beings, or nymphs
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
basis: 'The passage lists multiple changes: Scylla into a monster, Cecropes into
apes, Picus into a woodpecker, companions into birds, a shepherd into an olive
tree, ships into sea Nymphs, Anaxarete into stone, and mortals into deities.'
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: The taxonomy label 'shapeshifter' is broad; several changes are imposed
transformations rather than voluntary shape-shifting.
- id: motif:2
label: Punitive transformation for cruelty
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Anaxarete is said to have been changed into stone for her cruelty.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not specify the judging agent in this summary.
- id: motif:3
label: Disguised suitor wins divine beloved
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_beloved
- trickster_boundary
basis: Vertumnus loves Pomona, assumes the form of an old woman, tells an exemplary
story, reassumes youthful form, and prevails upon the goddess.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The summary does not detail Pomona's response beyond saying that Vertumnus
prevails.
- id: motif:4
label: Apotheosis of rulers and spouse
taxonomy_refs:
- ascent
- royal_legitimacy
basis: Aeneas is made a deity; Romulus is made a deity as Quirinus; Hersilia becomes
the Goddess Hora.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The summary names deification but does not describe ascent imagery or
political legitimation explicitly.
- id: motif:5
label: Life-form emerging from destructive fire
taxonomy_refs:
- death_rebirth
basis: Aeneas' ships burn and become sea Nymphs, and a heron arises from the flames
of Ardea.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage reports emergence from fire but does not explicitly frame
it as death and rebirth.
- id: motif:6
label: Waters altered by nymphs
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Cold waters become warm by the aid of the Naiads.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: No provided motif-family taxonomy precisely matches this localized water-transformation
episode.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: quote
locator: 373-375
quote_or_summary: '"Circe changes Scylla into a monster."'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 375-378
quote_or_summary: Aeneas arrives in Africa and is entertained by Dido; he passes
Pithecusae, where the Cecropes had become apes, and comes to Italy.
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: 378-381
quote_or_summary: Near Caieta, Aeneas learns from Macareus about Ulysses, Circe's
incantations, and King Picus' change into a woodpecker.
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: 381-383
quote_or_summary: Aeneas wages war with Turnus; Turnus asks Diomedes for aid through
Venulus, but Diomedes, whose companions had become birds, refuses.
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: quote
locator: 383-385
quote_or_summary: '"Venulus, as he returns, sees the spot where an Apulian shepherd
had been changed into an olive tree."'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 385-387
quote_or_summary: Aeneas' ships, when on fire, become sea Nymphs; similarly, a heron
once arose from the flames of Ardea.
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: quote
locator: '388'
quote_or_summary: '"Æneas is now made a Deity."'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 388-391
quote_or_summary: In the time of Procas, Pomona is loved by Vertumnus, who assumes
an old woman's form, tells of Anaxarete's change into stone for cruelty, returns
to youthful shape, and prevails upon the goddess.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 391-392
quote_or_summary: Cold waters become warm through the Naiads; Romulus becomes the
deity Quirinus, while Hersilia becomes the goddess Hora.
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: uncertain
notes: The passage is a book-summary argument rather than a full narrative, so event
identification is strong but motif interpretation lacks narrative detail.
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: |-
Used only the supplied passage and metadata. No comparison claims were added because the passage itself does not make explicit cross-textual comparisons beyond internal analogies.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:roman-ovid-metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley-gutenberg__l373-l392
passage_sha256=eb8c4b452b00e8666f59bc322e354fd9ff128f699889ff2e2235f9a496023c8a