batch.motif.roman-ovid-metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley-gutenberg-l985-l1065
---
record_id: batch.motif.roman-ovid-metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley-gutenberg-l985-l1065
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
passage_locator:
label: BOOK THE EIGHTH. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 985-1065
start: '985'
end: '1065'
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 catalogue of heroes arrives for the Calydonian boar hunt, including Atalanta,
whose dress and appearance are described. Meleager sees Atalanta and desires her.
The hunters enter an ancient wood and pursue the boar. Several spears fail or
are divinely blunted; the boar charges, wounds or knocks down hunters, and forces
tactical retreats. Nestor escapes into a tree, the Dioscuri pursue on horseback,
Telamon falls, Peleus helps him, and Atalanta wounds the boar under the ear, drawing
a little blood, to Meleager's joy.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The passage opens with a catalogue of named heroes gathered for the hunt,
including the sons of Tyndarus, Jason, Theseus and Pirithoüs, Nestor, Telamon,
Peleus, and Atalanta.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Atalanta is described with a fastened robe, plain hair tied in a knot, a weapon
case on her left shoulder, and a bow in her left hand.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Atalanta's face is described as appearing like both a maid in a boy and a
boy in a maid.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Meleager sees Atalanta, sighs for her, feels a hidden flame, and says that
whoever she chooses as husband will be happy.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: The hunt takes place in an old, uncut wood rising from a plain above fields,
with a hollow channel covered by willows, sedges, rushes, oziers, and reeds.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: The hunters set nets, release dogs, follow tracks, and prepare weapons before
the boar emerges.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: The boar bursts from cover, levels part of the grove, scatters dogs, and wounds
them as they oppose it.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: Echion's spear misses its target and only cuts a maple tree; Jason's spear
overshoots the boar.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: The son of Ampycus prays to Phoebus for an unerring weapon; the boar is struck,
but Diana removes the steel point so that the shaft reaches the boar without wounding
it.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:10
text: The boar is described as raging with light from its eyes and flame from its
breast.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:11
text: The boar knocks down Eupalamus and Pelagon, fatally wounds Enaesimus in the
knee, and later gores Othriades in the thigh.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:12
- id: obs:12
text: Nestor escapes the boar by using his lance to spring into the branches of
a nearby tree and look down safely.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:13
text: The two sons of Tyndarus, not yet constellations, ride white horses and brandish
lances but cannot wound the boar before it enters the wood.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: obs:14
text: Telamon pursues the boar and falls after being tripped by a tree root; Peleus
lifts him up.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
- id: obs:15
text: Atalanta shoots an arrow that grazes under the boar's ear and reddens its
bristles with a little blood.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:15
- id: obs:16
text: Meleager is said to be even more joyful than Atalanta at the success of her
shot.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:15
- id: obs:17
text: Caeneus is listed among the heroes and described as now no longer a woman.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Atalanta, the Tegeaean damsel
description: A female hunter from Tegea, called the glory of the Lycaean groves,
carrying weapons and a bow; she wounds the boar with an arrow.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:15
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Meleager, the Calydonian hero
description: A hero who sees Atalanta, desires her, and is delighted when her arrow
wounds the boar.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:15
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: The boar
description: A bristly, destructive beast that bursts from cover, scatters dogs,
resists attacks, wounds hunters, and is grazed by Atalanta's arrow.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:15
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Assembled heroes and hunters
description: A large group of named heroes who come to the hunt, set nets, release
dogs, follow tracks, and attack the boar.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Echion
description: A hunter whose first spear fails and cuts a maple tree.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Jason
description: The builder of the first ship and a hunter whose spear overshoots the
boar.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:7
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Son of Ampycus
description: A hunter who prays to Phoebus for an unerring weapon and strikes the
boar without wounding it after Diana removes the weapon point.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Phoebus
description: A god invoked by the son of Ampycus to grant an accurate shot.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Diana
description: A goddess who removes the steel head from the flying weapon aimed at
the boar.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Nestor
description: A young hero who escapes the boar by leaping into a tree with the aid
of his lance.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: The two sons of Tyndarus
description: Two brothers, not yet made constellations, riding white horses and
brandishing lances during the hunt.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Telamon
description: A hunter who pursues the boar and falls headlong when tripped by a
tree root.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Peleus
description: A hunter who lifts Telamon up after his fall.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
- id: fig:14
name_or_label: Caeneus
description: A hero in the catalogue, described as now no longer a woman.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
roles:
- id: role:1
label: female archer-hunter
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Atalanta carries a bow and shoots an arrow at the boar.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:15
- id: role:2
label: desiring hero
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Meleager sees Atalanta, sighs for her, and rejoices at her successful shot.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:15
- id: role:3
label: monstrous quarry
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The boar is the pursued animal, destructive and dangerous to hunters and
dogs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:10
- id: role:4
label: heroic hunters
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:11
- fig:12
basis: These figures participate in the hunt by gathering, tracking, pursuing, or
throwing weapons at the boar.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:13
- ev:14
- id: role:5
label: first successful wounder in this passage
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Atalanta's arrow fixes under the boar's ear and draws a little blood after
earlier attacks fail or are blocked.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:15
- id: role:6
label: invoked divine helper
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The son of Ampycus prays to Phoebus to help his weapon hit its target, and
the god grants the prayer as far as he can.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:7
label: divine obstructer
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Diana removes the steel head from the weapon before it wounds the boar.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:8
label: survivor by tree refuge
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Nestor avoids death by springing into a tree and watching the boar from safety.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:9
label: rescuer or helper
assigned_to:
- fig:13
basis: Peleus lifts Telamon after Telamon falls during pursuit.
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
- id: role:10
label: gender-transformed hero
assigned_to:
- fig:14
basis: Caeneus is named as a hero and described as now no longer a woman.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: ancient wood
literal_form: A thick wood of trees no age has cut down, rising from a plain above
fields.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: tree refuge
literal_form: A nearby tree whose branches allow Nestor to escape the charging boar.
associated_figures:
- fig:10
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: sym:3
label: tree root obstacle
literal_form: A tree root that trips Telamon during pursuit.
associated_figures:
- fig:12
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
- id: sym:4
label: flame of desire
literal_form: Meleager catches a latent flame when he sees Atalanta.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: fiery boar
literal_form: The enraged boar has light darting from its eyes and flame breathed
from its breast.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:6
label: boar as dangerous quarry
literal_form: A bristly boar that charges, wounds hunters and dogs, and resists
weapons.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:10
- id: sym:7
label: bow and arrow
literal_form: Atalanta's bow and arrow, used to graze the boar and draw blood.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:15
- id: sym:8
label: blunted or deprived weapon
literal_form: A flying weapon whose steel head is removed by Diana so that only
the shaft reaches the boar.
associated_figures:
- fig:7
- fig:9
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:9
label: not-yet-constellation brothers
literal_form: The two sons of Tyndarus are described as not yet made constellations
of the heavens.
associated_figures:
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Catalogue of hunters and Atalanta's entrance
summary: A large company of heroes is named, and Atalanta is singled out with details
of dress, weapons, and androgynous appearance.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:14
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Meleager's attraction to Atalanta
summary: Meleager sees Atalanta, feels desire, and speaks briefly about the happiness
of her future husband before the hunt overtakes the moment.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Hunters enter the old wood
summary: The hunters arrive at an ancient wooded setting, set nets, release dogs,
follow tracks, and prepare to face danger.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Boar bursts from cover and repels attacks
summary: The boar rushes from the hollow, damages the grove, scatters dogs, and
survives the first human attacks by Echion and Jason.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Divine removal of the spear point
summary: The son of Ampycus prays to Phoebus for an accurate weapon, but Diana removes
the steel head, causing the strike to fail to wound the boar.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:6
label: Boar's destructive charge
summary: The enraged boar is described with fiery imagery and knocks down or wounds
multiple hunters.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:12
- id: scene:7
label: Nestor's escape into the tree
summary: Nestor avoids being killed by springing into a nearby tree with his lance
and watching the boar from a safe height.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: scene:8
label: Mounted brothers, Telamon's fall, and Atalanta's shot
summary: The sons of Tyndarus pursue on white horses but cannot wound the boar;
Telamon falls and is helped by Peleus; Atalanta's arrow grazes the boar and draws
blood, delighting Meleager.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:11
- fig:12
- fig:13
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:7
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- ev:14
- ev:15
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: collective heroic hunt against a monstrous beast
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: A large group of named heroes gathers, tracks, attacks, and is endangered
by a powerful boar.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy family directly names the heroic hunt pattern.
- id: motif:2
label: dangerous quarry resists or defeats heroic weapons
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Early spears fail, a divinely altered weapon strikes without wounding, and
the boar injures multiple hunters.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: This is a passage-level action pattern rather than a named taxonomy motif.
- id: motif:3
label: divine intervention prevents a successful human strike
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Diana removes the steel point from the son of Ampycus's weapon before it
can wound the boar.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives the action but not the broader divine motive.
- id: motif:4
label: female archer wins first blood in a male heroic contest
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Atalanta, singled out among many male heroes, shoots the boar and draws blood
after previous attacks fail.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:15
confidence: medium
cautions: The phrase 'first blood' is inferred from the sequence within this passage;
the passage continues beyond the excerpt.
- id: motif:5
label: erotic flame amid heroic action
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Meleager sees Atalanta during the hunt assembly, catches a latent flame,
and speaks of her future husband before the contest resumes.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: medium
cautions: The motif label interprets metaphorical fire as desire; the observation
itself remains literal.
- id: motif:6
label: tree refuge from attacking beast
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Nestor escapes potential death by leaping into the branches of a nearby tree
while the boar remains below.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
confidence: medium
cautions: This is a localized episode within the hunt rather than a complete independent
tale pattern.
- id: motif:7
label: gender transformation noted in heroic catalogue
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
basis: Caeneus is included among the heroes and described as now no longer a woman.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: low
cautions: The transformation itself is not narrated in this excerpt; only its result
is mentioned.
- id: motif:8
label: future celestial transformation alluded to
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The sons of Tyndarus are described as not yet made constellations while they
participate in the hunt.
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
confidence: low
cautions: The passage only alludes to a later state and does not narrate catasterism.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 985-1007
quote_or_summary: A catalogue lists many heroes present for the hunt, including
the sons of Tyndarus, Jason, Theseus and Pirithoüs, Caeneus now no longer a woman,
Telamon, Peleus, Nestor, and Atalanta.
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 1007-1014
quote_or_summary: Atalanta is described with a fastened robe, plain knotted hair,
an ivory weapon-keeper on her left shoulder, a bow in her left hand, and an appearance
compared to both maid and boy.
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 1014-1020
quote_or_summary: Meleager sees Atalanta, sighs for her, catches a latent flame,
says her future husband will be happy, and then turns to the contest.
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 1021-1028
quote_or_summary: The setting is an ancient uncut wood above fields, with a hollow
channel covered by willows, sedges, rushes, oziers, and reeds.
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 1023-1026
quote_or_summary: The heroes arrive, extend nets, release dogs from couples, and
follow the boar's tracks while seeking their danger.
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 1028-1035
quote_or_summary: The boar rushes from cover into the hunters, levels part of the
grove, scatters the dogs, and wounds them from the side.
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 1036-1041
quote_or_summary: Echion's first spear is unavailing and cuts a maple tree; Jason's
spear is thrown too strongly and goes beyond the boar.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 1041-1048
quote_or_summary: The son of Ampycus asks Phoebus to make his weapon unerring; the
god consents as far as he can, but Diana removes the steel head so the shaft hits
without wounding.
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: lines 1048-1050
quote_or_summary: The monster's rage increases; light darts from its eyes and flame
is breathed from its breast.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 1050-1058
quote_or_summary: The boar charges like a launched stone, knocks down Eupalamus
and Pelagon on the right wing, and gives Enaesimus a deadly wound that cuts the
sinews of his knee.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 1059-1064
quote_or_summary: Nestor, who might have died before the Trojan War, plants his
lance, springs into the branches of a nearby tree, and safely looks down at the
enemy.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: lines 1064-1067
quote_or_summary: The boar whets its tusk on an oak and gores the thigh of the great
Othriades with crooked tusks.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:13
type: summary
locator: lines 1067-1073
quote_or_summary: The two sons of Tyndarus, not yet constellations, ride white horses
and brandish lances, but the boar enters a shady wood inaccessible to weapons
and horses.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:14
type: summary
locator: lines 1073-1076
quote_or_summary: Telamon pursues the boar, falls headlong after being tripped by
a tree root, and Peleus lifts him up.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/roman/project-gutenberg/metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:15
type: summary
locator: lines 1076-1081
quote_or_summary: Atalanta fits an arrow to the string, bends the bow, shoots, and
grazes the boar under the ear, reddening the bristles with a little blood; Meleager
is even more joyful than she is.
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: Extraction is based only on the supplied passage. Some evidence locators
extend slightly beyond the requested line range because the supplied passage text
continues the described episode past line 1065.
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 explicitly support a cautious cross-textual comparison.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:roman-ovid-metamorphoses-books-8-15-riley-gutenberg__l985-l1065
passage_sha256=ab7ecbae99d6b21c2ab4908be14d63e5c9335251c6c9dd02ba23986993097aa0