batch.motif.greek-roman-berens-myths-legends-gutenberg-l5897-l5913
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-roman-berens-myths-legends-gutenberg-l5897-l5913
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
passage_locator:
label: PICUS. / PICUMNUS AND PILUMNUS. / SILVANUS. / TERMINUS.; lines 5897-5913
start: '5897'
end: '5913'
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: Terminus was the god who presided over all boundaries and landmarks.
summary: The passage describes Terminus as the Roman god of boundaries and landmarks,
represented by stone boundary markers and honored with altars and the Terminalia
festival. It also recounts that Terminus and Juventas refused displacement when
Tarquin planned a new temple, and that this was read as an omen of Rome's lasting
boundaries and youth.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Terminus is described as presiding over boundaries and landmarks.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Terminus was first represented by a simple block of stone, later with a head
of the divinity placed on it.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Numa Pompilius ordered the erection of stone blocks to mark lines dividing
one property from another.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Numa Pompilius caused altars to be raised to Terminus and instituted the Terminalia
festival on 23 February.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: When Tarquin wished to remove altars to build a new temple, Terminus and Juventas
objected to being displaced.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: The refusal of Terminus and Juventas to be displaced was interpreted as a
good omen for Rome's boundaries and enduring vigor.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Terminus
description: God presiding over boundaries and landmarks; represented by a stone
block and later by a headed marker; resisted displacement of his altar.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:5
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Numa Pompilius
description: Described as a benefactor of his people who ordered boundary stones,
altars to Terminus, and the Terminalia festival.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Tarquin
description: Wished to remove the altars of several deities in order to build a
new temple.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Juventas
description: A deity who, along with Terminus, objected to being displaced.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Rome
description: The city whose boundaries and continued youth and vigor were signified
by the omen.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
roles:
- id: role:1
label: boundary deity
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage says Terminus presided over boundaries and landmarks.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: immovable divine presence
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:4
basis: Terminus and Juventas objected to being displaced when Tarquin sought to
remove altars.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:3
label: ritual and boundary institutor
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Numa ordered boundary stones, altars, and a festival for Terminus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:4
label: temple builder seeking removal of altars
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Tarquin wished to remove altars to build a new temple.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: recipient of omen
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The refusal was interpreted as an omen about Rome's lasting boundaries and
vigor.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: boundary stone
literal_form: simple block of stone marking property divisions
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: sym:2
label: altar of Terminus
literal_form: altar raised to Terminus and later targeted for removal
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: Terminalia festival date
literal_form: festival celebrated on the 23rd of February
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: omen of enduring boundaries
literal_form: refusal of Terminus and Juventas to be displaced
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Institution of boundary markers and worship
summary: Numa Pompilius orders stone blocks to mark property divisions, raises altars
to Terminus, and institutes the Terminalia festival.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:2
label: Refusal of divine displacement
summary: Tarquin plans to remove altars for a new temple, but Terminus and Juventas
refuse to be displaced; their refusal is read as a favorable omen for Rome.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: deity embodied in boundary marker
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Terminus presides over boundaries and is represented by stone blocks marking
property divisions.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy symbol directly matches stone or boundary marker.
- id: motif:2
label: ritual establishment of property boundaries
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Numa orders durable stone monuments to divide properties and institutes associated
altars and a festival.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage is handbook summary rather than a detailed ritual narrative.
- id: motif:3
label: immovable deity as civic omen
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Terminus and Juventas refuse displacement, and the refusal is interpreted
as a favorable omen for Rome's future boundaries and vigor.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage reports the interpretation but does not narrate the mechanism
of the divine objection.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: quote
locator: lines 5897-5913
quote_or_summary: "“Terminus was the god who presided over all boundaries and landmarks.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation used.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 5897-5913
quote_or_summary: Terminus was originally represented by a simple stone block, later
surmounted by a head of the divinity.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 5897-5913
quote_or_summary: Numa Pompilius ordered stone blocks to be erected as durable monuments
marking the division between properties.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 5897-5913
quote_or_summary: Numa also raised altars to Terminus and instituted the Terminalia
festival, celebrated on 23 February.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 5897-5913
quote_or_summary: When Tarquin wanted to remove altars of several deities to build
a new temple, Terminus and Juventas alone objected to displacement.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 5897-5913
quote_or_summary: The refusal was interpreted as a good omen that Rome would never
lose her boundaries and would remain young and vigorous.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: high
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: The passage is concise and supports extraction of boundary, stone-marker,
ritual-institution, and omen motifs. No comparison claims are made because the
passage itself does not compare this material to another tradition or motif family.
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 available taxonomy reference was applied; the passage concerns boundary stones and civic omens, while the supplied taxonomy list lacks a direct boundary-stone category.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-roman-berens-myths-legends-gutenberg__l5897-l5913
passage_sha256=38e045b84f7c39cefd125c4b09e2b42b0ded8521af8c20c37999728f14f6de7a