batch.motif.roman-ovid-metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley-gutenberg-l7878-l7962
---
record_id: batch.motif.roman-ovid-metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley-gutenberg-l7878-l7962
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
passage_locator:
label: EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / BOOK THE TWELFTH. / EXPLANATION.; lines 7878-7962
start: '7878'
end: '7962'
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 speaker recounts violent episodes from the battle involving Centaurs
and Lapiths. He describes the beautiful centaur Cyllarus, Cyllarus's beloved Hylonome,
their shared life and warfare, Cyllarus's death by a javelin, and Hylonome's suicide
upon the same weapon while embracing him. The passage then continues with a catalogue
of further warriors, weapons, wounds, and deaths.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The speaker throws a javelin at an opponent, pinning the opponent's hand to
his forehead.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Peleus strikes the wounded opponent beneath the middle of the belly with a
sword, and the opponent dies after dragging and trampling his own entrails.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Cyllarus is described as young, golden-haired, physically attractive in his
human upper body, and black-bodied with a white tail and white legs in his horse
form.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Many females of Cyllarus's kind desire him, but Hylonome alone gains him.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Hylonome adorns and washes herself, using flowers, combing, animal skins,
and streams in the Pagasaean wood.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Cyllarus and Hylonome love equally, wander mountains together, enter caves
together, enter the Lapithaean house together, and fight in the same warfare together.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: An unknown thrower sends a javelin from the left side that pierces Cyllarus
near the junction of breast and neck.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Hylonome receives Cyllarus's dying body, touches the wound, kisses him, and
tries to stop his life from departing.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: After seeing Cyllarus dead, Hylonome falls upon the weapon that pierced him
and dies while embracing him as her husband.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: Phaeocomes wears six lion skins and uses the trunk of a tree as a weapon,
crushing the skull of the son of Phonolenus.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: The speaker says he wounds or kills several named opponents and shows an old
scar from Teleboas's javelin.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:12
text: The passage lists additional named combatants and deaths, including Mopsus,
Caeneus, and Latreus.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: unnamed speaking warrior
description: First-person narrator of the combat recollection; he throws a javelin,
uses a sword, names the dead, and points to an old scar.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Peleus
description: Warrior standing next to the wounded opponent; he strikes him with
a sword beneath the belly.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: unnamed horned opponent
description: Opponent whose horns are contrasted with the speaker's steel and whose
hand is pinned to his forehead by a javelin before Peleus wounds him.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Cyllarus
description: A beautiful male centaur-like figure with a human upper body and horse
lower body; beloved of Hylonome; killed by a javelin.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Hylonome
description: Female of Cyllarus's kind, described as exceptionally handsome among
the half-beasts; beloved of Cyllarus; dies on the weapon that killed him while
embracing him.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Phaeocomes
description: Warrior covered in six lion skins who hurls a tree trunk and kills
the son of Phonolenus before being struck by the speaker.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: son of Phonolenus
description: Victim whose skull is crushed by the tree trunk hurled by Phaeocomes.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Chthonius
description: Named figure who lies pierced by the speaker's sword and is said to
have carried a two-forked bough as a weapon.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Teleboas
description: Named figure who lies pierced by the speaker's sword and had wounded
the speaker with a javelin.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Mopsus
description: Son of Ampycus, said not only to foretell the future but also to slay
a two-formed monster with a dart.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Caeneus
description: Combatant said to have put five named opponents to death while wielding
an axe.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Latreus
description: Large warrior armed with spoils, shield, helmet, and Macedonian pike,
who rides in a circle and vaunts.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
roles:
- id: role:1
label: first-person or allied combatant
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:2
basis: The speaker and Peleus are described attacking opponents in battle.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: role:2
label: beautiful hybrid beloved
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Cyllarus is described with exceptional beauty and as the object of Hylonome's
love.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:3
label: devoted wife or beloved who dies with partner
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Hylonome loves Cyllarus, tends his dying body, and dies upon the same weapon
while embracing him as husband.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: role:4
label: enemy or opposing warrior
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:9
- fig:12
basis: These figures are presented as combatants who attack, are attacked, or are
killed in the warfare.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:5
label: battle victim
assigned_to:
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
basis: These figures are described as lying dead or being struck down in the combat
account.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:6
label: named slayer in battle catalogue
assigned_to:
- fig:10
- fig:11
basis: Mopsus and Caeneus are identified by the named opponents they kill.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: mountains
literal_form: mountains where Cyllarus and Hylonome wander together
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: caves
literal_form: caves entered together by Cyllarus and Hylonome
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- cave
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: streams
literal_form: streams falling from the height of the Pagasaean wood in which Hylonome
washes her face and body
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: tree weapons
literal_form: tree trunk, two-forked bough, and cornel-wood spear used as weapons
in battle
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:5
label: fatal javelin
literal_form: javelin that pierces Cyllarus and upon which Hylonome dies
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: opening close combat
summary: The speaker pins an opponent's hand to his forehead with a javelin, and
Peleus follows with a sword wound that kills the opponent violently.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: description of Cyllarus and Hylonome
summary: Cyllarus is portrayed as an exceptionally beautiful hybrid figure, and
Hylonome is described as the one who gains his affection and adorns herself carefully.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: shared life and warfare of the lovers
summary: Cyllarus and Hylonome are said to love equally, travel through mountains
and caves together, enter the Lapithaean house together, and join the battle together.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: death of Cyllarus and Hylonome
summary: Cyllarus is struck by a javelin and dies; Hylonome tries to preserve his
life, then kills herself on the same weapon and dies embracing him.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: continuing battle catalogue
summary: The speaker recounts further violent episodes involving Phaeocomes, Chthonius,
Teleboas, Mopsus, Caeneus, Latreus, and other named combatants.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:12
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: lovers united in death on the battlefield
taxonomy_refs:
- annihilation_union
basis: Hylonome tends the dying Cyllarus, then falls upon the same weapon and dies
while embracing him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents a humanly emotional double death, but does not explicitly
frame it as mystical or cosmic union; the taxonomy match is approximate.
- id: motif:2
label: beautiful hybrid warrior beloved
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Cyllarus is described as a physically beautiful half-human, half-horse figure
desired by many and loved by Hylonome.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The passage describes hybrid form, not transformation; no shapeshifting
is stated.
- id: motif:3
label: inseparable pair sharing wild places and battle
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Cyllarus and Hylonome wander mountains, enter caves, enter the house, and
fight together.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The motif is limited to this pair's shared actions within the passage.
- id: motif:4
label: catalogue of named combat deaths
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The speaker recounts a sequence of named combatants, weapons, wounds, and
slain figures.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: This is a narrative pattern in the passage rather than a mapped taxonomy
family.
- id: motif:5
label: tree used as weapon in heroic combat
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Phaeocomes hurls a tree trunk as a weapon, and Chthonius carries a two-forked
bough.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage treats the tree forms as battle weapons; no explicit sacred-tree
meaning is stated.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 7878-7890
quote_or_summary: The speaker throws a javelin that pins an opponent's hand to his
forehead; Peleus then strikes the opponent under the belly, and the opponent dies
after his entrails are exposed and trampled.
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 7890-7905
quote_or_summary: Cyllarus is described as golden-haired and handsome in his human
parts, with a fine horse body, black coloring, and white tail and legs.
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 7905-7918
quote_or_summary: Many females desire Cyllarus, but Hylonome gains him; she loves
him openly and adorns and washes herself with flowers, streams, and choice animal
skins.
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: quote
locator: lines 7920-7924
quote_or_summary: "“Their love was equal: together they wandered upon the mountains;
together they entered the caves” and together they entered the Lapithaean house
and the warfare."
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 7924-7935
quote_or_summary: An unknown javelin pierces Cyllarus near the neck and breast;
Hylonome holds him, touches the wound, kisses him, tries to stop his departing
life, then dies by falling upon the same weapon while embracing him.
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 7935-7951
quote_or_summary: Phaeocomes, covered in six lion skins, hurls a tree trunk and
crushes the son of Phonolenus; the speaker then stabs Phaeocomes and mentions
Chthonius and Teleboas, including Teleboas's javelin wound and the speaker's scar.
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 7952-7962
quote_or_summary: 'The speaker reflects on Troy and names further combatants and
deaths: Periphas, Ampyx, Macareus, Nessus, Mopsus, Caeneus, and Latreus, with
weapons including spear, crowbar, hunting spear, dart, axe, and Macedonian pike.'
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 literal battle narrative and named figures are explicit. Motif labels
are cautious and mostly unmapped because the passage does not state broader comparative
claims.
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 comparison claims were added because the passage itself does not support external historical, linguistic, or cross-traditional comparison.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:roman-ovid-metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley-gutenberg__l7878-l7962
passage_sha256=4b12bd65cb4b32e13248acb1a7fb708f9d017cb3676876a078c1fbc121273de6