batch.motif.greek-roman-berens-myths-legends-gutenberg-l6327-l6339
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-roman-berens-myths-legends-gutenberg-l6327-l6339
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
passage_locator:
label: SACRIFICES. / ORACLES. / SOOTHSAYERS (AUGURS). / AUGURS.; lines 6327-6339
start: '6327'
end: '6339'
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: The passage states that Greeks believed soothsayers could foretell future
events through dreams, bird flight, entrails of sacrificed animals, and altar
flames or smoke. It adds that Roman soothsayers were called augurs and were consulted
before any enterprise to determine its success.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Greek soothsayers are described as men believed to have the power to foretell
future events.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The listed means of foretelling include dreams, flight of birds, entrails
of sacrificed animals, and the direction of flames and smoke from the altar.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Roman soothsayers are called augurs.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Romans are described as consulting augurs before undertaking any enterprise,
with regard to its ultimate success.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Greek soothsayers
description: Certain men among the Greeks believed to be gifted with foretelling
future events.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Roman augurs
description: Roman soothsayers who were consulted before enterprises.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
roles:
- id: role:1
label: foreteller of future events
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:2
basis: The passage identifies soothsayers as persons gifted with foretelling future
events and calls Roman soothsayers augurs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: ritual consultant before enterprise
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The passage states that no Roman enterprise was undertaken without consulting
augurs about its success.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: dreams as divinatory signs
literal_form: dreams
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: bird flight as omen
literal_form: flight of birds
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: entrails of sacrificed animals
literal_form: entrails of sacrificed animals
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:4
label: altar flames and smoke
literal_form: direction of the flames and smoke from the altar
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Greek methods of foretelling
summary: Greek soothsayers are described as foretelling future events from dreams,
bird flight, sacrificial entrails, and altar flames or smoke.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Roman consultation of augurs
summary: Roman augurs are described as important officials consulted before enterprises
to judge their ultimate success.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Omen-based divination
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: 'The passage lists multiple observed signs used to foretell future events:
dreams, bird flight, sacrificial entrails, and altar fire or smoke.'
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: high
cautions: The passage is a handbook summary and does not narrate a specific divinatory
episode.
- id: motif:2
label: Divination from sacrificial remains
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
basis: One method of foretelling is observing the entrails of sacrificed animals.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: medium
cautions: Sacrifice is mentioned as the source of entrails, but no sacrificial ritual
is described in detail.
- id: motif:3
label: Consulting diviners before an undertaking
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage says Romans did not undertake an enterprise without first consulting
augurs about its success.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives a general custom rather than a particular mythic narrative.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage presents Greek soothsayers and Roman augurs as occupying the
same general function of foretelling or advising about future outcomes.
claim_level: same_function
target: Greek soothsayers and Roman augurs
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage distinguishes Greek examples of divinatory methods from
Roman institutional consultation and does not provide a detailed historical comparison.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 6327-6333
quote_or_summary: Greeks believed certain men called soothsayers could foretell
future events from dreams, bird flight, entrails of sacrificed animals, and altar
flames or smoke.
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:2
type: summary
locator: 6335-6339
quote_or_summary: Roman soothsayers were called augurs and were consulted before
enterprises regarding their ultimate success.
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: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: The passage is explicit about divinatory roles and methods, but it is descriptive
rather than narrative, limiting motif specificity.
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: |-
Used only the supplied passage and metadata; taxonomy references limited to available supplied refs where directly supported.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-roman-berens-myths-legends-gutenberg__l6327-l6339
passage_sha256=5bb2fcb6ad92d142f8ade0518dd0d418861d44cec39be7fa35c7c11a920148f8