batch.motif.greek-roman-berens-myths-legends-gutenberg-l1869-l1876
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-roman-berens-myths-legends-gutenberg-l1869-l1876
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
passage_locator:
label: PALLAS-ATHENE (MINERVA). / MINERVA. / THEMIS. / VESTA.; lines 1869-1876
start: '1869'
end: '1876'
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: Eresicthon, son of Triopas, angers Demeter by cutting down her sacred groves
and is punished with insatiable hunger. After selling his possessions, he devours
his own limbs. His devoted daughter Metra can transform into different animals
and supports him by being repeatedly sold in different forms.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Eresicthon is identified as the son of Triopas.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Eresicthon cuts down sacred groves belonging to Demeter.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Demeter becomes angry with Eresicthon and punishes him with constant, insatiable
hunger.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: Eresicthon sells all his possessions to satisfy his cravings.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Eresicthon is eventually forced to devour his own limbs.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: Metra is Eresicthon's daughter and is described as devotedly attached to him.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: Metra possesses the power to transform herself into a variety of different
animals.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:8
text: Metra supports her father by assuming different forms and being sold by him
repeatedly.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Eresicthon
description: Son of Triopas who angers Demeter, suffers insatiable hunger, sells
his possessions, devours his own limbs, and repeatedly sells his transformed daughter.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Triopas
description: Named as the father of Eresicthon.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Demeter
description: Goddess whose sacred groves are cut down and who punishes Eresicthon
with hunger.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Metra
description: Daughter of Eresicthon, devoted to him, able to transform into various
animals, and repeatedly sold after assuming different forms.
role_refs:
- role:6
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
roles:
- id: role:1
label: sacred-grove violator
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: He cuts down Demeter's sacred groves.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: named father
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Triopas is named as Eresicthon's father.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: punishing deity
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Demeter punishes Eresicthon with constant and insatiable hunger.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:4
label: punished sufferer
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Eresicthon suffers insatiable hunger, sells possessions, and devours his
own limbs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: father who sells daughter
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: He repeatedly sells Metra after she assumes different forms.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:6
label: devoted daughter
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Metra is described as devotedly attached to her father.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:7
label: animal shapeshifter
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Metra can transform herself into different animals.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: sacred groves
literal_form: Sacred groves of Demeter cut down by Eresicthon.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: animal forms
literal_form: A variety of different animals assumed by Metra.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Cutting of Demeter's sacred groves and punishment
summary: Eresicthon cuts down Demeter's sacred groves, draws her anger, and is punished
with unending hunger.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Insatiable hunger and self-devouring
summary: Eresicthon sells all his possessions to feed his cravings and is finally
forced to devour his own limbs.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Metra's transformations and repeated sale
summary: Metra uses her ability to become different animals to support her father,
who sells her repeatedly after each transformation.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Divine punishment for violating sacred groves
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: A deity, Demeter, punishes Eresicthon after he cuts down her sacred groves.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents the punishment directly but does not provide a formal
trial or judgment scene.
- id: motif:2
label: Insatiable hunger leading to self-consumption
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Eresicthon's hunger is constant and insatiable, exhausts his possessions,
and ends with him devouring his own limbs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: No available taxonomy reference exactly matches this hunger/self-devouring
pattern.
- id: motif:3
label: Shapeshifting daughter repeatedly sold in different forms
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
basis: Metra transforms into different animals and is repeatedly sold by her father
after each change of form.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage states the ability and its use, but gives no details about
the specific animal forms.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 1869-1871
quote_or_summary: Eresicthon, son of Triopas, angers Demeter by cutting down her
sacred groves, and she punishes him with constant insatiable hunger.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 1871-1873
quote_or_summary: Eresicthon sells all his possessions to satisfy his cravings and
is finally forced to devour his own limbs.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 1873-1875
quote_or_summary: Metra, Eresicthon's devoted daughter, has the power to transform
herself into various animals.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 1875-1876
quote_or_summary: Metra supports her father by assuming different forms, allowing
him to sell her repeatedly and continue his pitiful existence.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: high
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Extraction is based entirely on the supplied passage. No comparison claims
are made because the passage does not itself support cross-text comparison.
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: |-
Line label includes nearby headings from source metadata, but the supplied passage concerns Eresicthon, Demeter, and Metra.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-roman-berens-myths-legends-gutenberg__l1869-l1876
passage_sha256=47e71773519f13a39622260b360d4d9832fb3ad5edff46069a7299df3ce06c1e