batch.motif.greek-roman-berens-myths-legends-gutenberg-l10012-l10108
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-roman-berens-myths-legends-gutenberg-l10012-l10108
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
passage_locator:
label: ALCMAEON AND THE NECKLACE. / THE HERACLIDAE. / THE SIEGE OF TROY. / RETURN
OF THE GREEKS FROM TROY.; lines 10012-10108
start: '10012'
end: '10108'
translation: Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Odysseus and twelve companions explore the land of the Cyclops, enter Polyphemus'
cave, are trapped by a great rock, and suffer the loss of several men. Odysseus
gives Polyphemus wine, names himself Noman, blinds him with a heated olive-staff,
and escapes with his surviving companions by hiding beneath sheep. After Odysseus
reveals his real name, Polyphemus hurls a rock at the ship and calls on Poseidon
to curse Odysseus' return. The passage then briefly notes arrival at Aeolus' island.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The Cyclops are described as one-eyed giants with the eye in the centre of
the forehead.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Odysseus leaves his fleet anchored and enters the Cyclops' country with twelve
chosen companions.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Odysseus and his companions enter a large cave containing cheese and pails
of milk.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Polyphemus returns with wood and sheep, then blocks the cave entrance with
a huge rock.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Odysseus claims hospitality in the name of Zeus, but Polyphemus rejects fear
of the gods and eats two companions.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Odysseus postpones killing Polyphemus because the rock blocking the cave would
prevent escape.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: Polyphemus eats more companions on the following morning and evening.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: Odysseus gives Polyphemus wine and tells him that his name is Noman.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: Odysseus and his companions heat a piece of Polyphemus' olive-staff in the
fire and blind Polyphemus with it.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:10
text: When other Cyclops ask what happened, Polyphemus says that Noman injured him,
causing them to leave.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:11
text: Odysseus fastens his companions beneath sheep and escapes himself by clinging
to the wool of the finest ram.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:12
text: After reaching his ship, Odysseus reveals his real name and mocks Polyphemus.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:13
text: Polyphemus hurls a rock toward the ship and asks Poseidon to avenge him by
making Odysseus' return long, unhappy, and desolate.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:14
text: After further sailing, Odysseus and his followers reach the island of Aeolus,
king of the Winds.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Odysseus
description: Leader of the expedition who explores the Cyclops' country, devises
the blinding of Polyphemus, escapes beneath the ram, and reveals his name afterward.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Odysseus' companions
description: Twelve chosen men accompany Odysseus; several are eaten by Polyphemus,
while survivors help blind the giant and escape beneath sheep.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Polyphemus
description: A fierce one-eyed giant, son of Poseidon and owner of the cave, who
traps and eats some of Odysseus' companions before being blinded.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:6
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:11
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Poseidon
description: Father of Polyphemus, invoked by Polyphemus to avenge him and curse
Odysseus' return.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:11
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Zeus
description: God named by Odysseus when he claims hospitality from Polyphemus.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Brother Cyclops
description: Other Cyclops living in nearby caves who come when they hear Polyphemus'
cries but leave after hearing that Noman injured him.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Aeolus
description: King of the Winds, on whose island Odysseus and his followers later
arrive and are welcomed.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
roles:
- id: role:1
label: leader of companions
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Odysseus chooses twelve companions and directs their actions in the cave
episode.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:10
- id: role:2
label: deviser of escape plan
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Odysseus waits, devises a scheme, blinds Polyphemus, and arranges escape
beneath the sheep.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: role:3
label: name-concealing speaker
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Odysseus tells Polyphemus that his name is Noman, then later reveals his
real name from the ship.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:11
- id: role:4
label: endangered companions
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The companions are trapped in the cave; several are devoured, while others
assist Odysseus and escape.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: role:5
label: cave owner
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Polyphemus is identified as the owner of the cave where the intruders wait.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:6
label: hostile giant captor
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Polyphemus blocks the entrance, rejects the hospitality plea, devours men,
and searches for the escapees.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:10
- id: role:7
label: son seeking paternal vengeance
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Polyphemus calls upon his father Poseidon to avenge him and curse Odysseus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:8
label: divine father invoked for vengeance
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Poseidon is named as Polyphemus' father and is invoked to avenge the blinding.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:11
- id: role:9
label: deity named in hospitality claim
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Odysseus claims hospitality in the name of Zeus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:10
label: nearby inquirers
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The brother Cyclops come to the cave after hearing cries and ask the cause.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:11
label: welcoming ruler
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Aeolus is king of the Winds and welcomes Odysseus' party on his island.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: cave
literal_form: vast cave of Polyphemus
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- cave
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: milk
literal_form: pails and draughts of milk
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- milk
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: fire
literal_form: fire kindled from pine-wood; fire used to heat the olive-staff
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: sym:4
label: blocking rock
literal_form: enormous rock placed at the cave entrance
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: sym:5
label: wine in goat-skin
literal_form: large measure of wine brought from the ship in a goat's skin
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:6
label: olive-staff weapon
literal_form: piece of Polyphemus' olive-staff heated and thrust into his eye
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:7
label: sheep and ram
literal_form: large sheep linked three abreast and the finest ram used for Odysseus'
escape
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:8
label: thrown rock
literal_form: huge rock hurled by Polyphemus toward Odysseus' ship
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Arrival in the Cyclops' country
summary: Odysseus leaves the fleet anchored nearby and takes twelve companions to
explore the land of the one-eyed Cyclops.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Entry into Polyphemus' cave
summary: The party enters a large cave and finds cheese and milk, while Odysseus
chooses to wait for the owner rather than leave.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Polyphemus traps and devours guests
summary: Polyphemus returns, blocks the cave with a rock, rejects the plea for Zeus-sanctioned
hospitality, and eats two companions.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Waiting and planning in the sealed cave
summary: Odysseus decides not to kill the sleeping giant because the rock would
keep them trapped, and he begins planning an escape.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Wine, false name, and blinding
summary: After more companions are eaten, Odysseus gives Polyphemus wine, says his
name is Noman, and blinds him with a heated olive-staff while he sleeps.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:6
label: Noman answer to the other Cyclops
summary: Polyphemus' cries bring other Cyclops to the cave, but his statement that
Noman injured him causes them to leave.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: scene:7
label: Escape beneath the sheep
summary: Odysseus ties the surviving companions beneath sheep and escapes himself
by clinging to the ram while the blinded Polyphemus checks the animals.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: scene:8
label: Name revealed and curse invoked
summary: From the ship Odysseus reveals his real name and mocks Polyphemus; Polyphemus
hurls a rock and asks Poseidon to make Odysseus' return long and unhappy.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: scene:9
label: Arrival at Aeolus' island
summary: After further wandering over unknown seas, Odysseus and his followers reach
Aeolus, king of the Winds, who receives them hospitably.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:7
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Hero trapped in monster's cave escapes by cunning
taxonomy_refs:
- trickster_boundary
basis: Odysseus is trapped in Polyphemus' cave, uses wine, the false name Noman,
blinding, and concealment beneath sheep to escape a stronger hostile giant.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The available taxonomy reference is broad; the passage presents cunning
and boundary-crossing but does not name a formal motif category.
- id: motif:2
label: Denied hospitality to strangers
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Odysseus claims hospitality in the name of Zeus, while Polyphemus rejects
fear of the gods and eats the strangers instead.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: No specific supplied taxonomy reference directly names hospitality violation.
- id: motif:3
label: Cursed return voyage
taxonomy_refs:
- return
basis: After Odysseus reveals his name, Polyphemus asks Poseidon to make his return
long, late, unhappy, and desolate, with ships and companions destroyed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives only the curse and immediate continuation, not its complete
fulfillment.
- id: motif:4
label: Divine parent invoked by injured child
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_parent_child
basis: Polyphemus is identified as Poseidon's son and calls on Poseidon to avenge
him after the blinding.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not narrate Poseidon's direct response in this excerpt.
- id: motif:5
label: Descent-like entry into enclosed danger
taxonomy_refs:
- hero_descent
basis: Odysseus enters a cave, becomes enclosed by a rock, faces death for his companions,
and escapes through a stratagem.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The cave is not described as an underworld, and the episode is not explicitly
framed as a descent.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 10012-10018
quote_or_summary: Odysseus reaches the Cyclops' country, described as a land of
one-eyed giants, and goes to explore with twelve companions.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 10020-10027
quote_or_summary: Near the shore the party enters a vast cave containing piles of
cheese and pails of milk; companions urge return, but Odysseus waits for the owner.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 10029-10035
quote_or_summary: Polyphemus, son of Poseidon and owner of the cave, returns with
wood and sheep and closes the entrance with a rock too heavy for a hundred men.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 10037-10047
quote_or_summary: Odysseus claims hospitality in Zeus' name; Polyphemus rejects
fear of the gods, seizes two companions, eats them, drinks milk, and sleeps beside
the fire.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 10049-10057
quote_or_summary: Odysseus considers killing the sleeping giant but remembers that
the cave is blocked by the rock and begins devising an escape plan.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 10059-10064
quote_or_summary: The next morning Polyphemus eats two more companions, drives out
his flock, and reseals the cave; the next evening he eats two more.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 10065-10070
quote_or_summary: Odysseus offers Polyphemus wine from a goat-skin, says his name
is Noman, and Polyphemus says he will eat Noman last.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 10072-10078
quote_or_summary: While Polyphemus sleeps from the wine, Odysseus and his companions
heat a piece of the giant's olive-staff in the fire and blind him with it.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:9
type: quote
locator: 10080-10088
quote_or_summary: 'Polyphemus'' reply to the other Cyclops is: "Noman has injured
me"; they conclude he is tricking them and leave.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation from supplied passage.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: 10090-10101
quote_or_summary: Polyphemus opens the cave and feels among the sheep; Odysseus
has tied companions beneath sheep and escapes himself by clinging to the finest
ram.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: 10103-10110
quote_or_summary: After boarding the ship, Odysseus reveals his name and mocks Polyphemus;
Polyphemus hurls a rock and asks Poseidon to curse Odysseus' voyage and return.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: 10112-10115
quote_or_summary: Odysseus and his followers later anchor at Aeolus' island; Aeolus,
king of the Winds, welcomes and entertains them.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: The episode is clearly extractable from the supplied passage. Motif taxonomy
assignments are cautious because only broad available motif families were supplied.
No comparison claims are made because the passage itself does not explicitly compare
this episode with another tradition or corpus.
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: |-
Only the supplied passage and metadata were used. Line locators are approximate subdivisions within the provided range based on passage order.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-roman-berens-myths-legends-gutenberg__l10012-l10108
passage_sha256=b165ce06ac4a1f19a12d998bfc12d862f0a55bcfbf10075015cc24efd342ee9b