batch.motif.greek-roman-berens-myths-legends-gutenberg-l8170-l8264
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-roman-berens-myths-legends-gutenberg-l8170-l8264
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
passage_locator:
label: THE ARGONAUTS. / STORY OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE. / PELOPS. / HERACLES (HERCULES).;
lines 8170-8264
start: '8170'
end: '8264'
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: Heracles accidentally kills Iphitus during a fit of madness, wanders seeking
purification, restores Alcestis after a struggle with Death, and seeks relief
at Delphi. After seizing the Delphic tripod when refused an oracle, he is stopped
by Apollo and Zeus and ordered to expiate his crime through three years of slavery
under Omphale. Omphale frees him and offers marriage and rule; he spends time
in role-reversing luxury before resuming vengeance against Laomedon and Augeas.
He takes Troy, kills Laomedon, gives Hesione to Telamon, and Podarces is ransomed
with a golden diadem and renamed Priam. Heracles then kills Augeas and his sons
but spares Phyleus. He wins Deianeira from the shapeshifting river-god Achelous,
later accidentally kills a serving youth, and voluntarily leaves for Trachin with
Deianeira and Hyllus.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Heracles and Iphitus set out to search for a missing herd and climbed a tower
near Tiryns to look over the surrounding country.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: While on the tower, Heracles was seized by madness, mistook Iphitus for an
enemy, threw him down, and Iphitus died.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Heracles wandered in search of someone to purify him from the murder of Iphitus.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: During these wanderings, Heracles reached Admetus's palace and restored Alcestis
to her husband after a struggle with Death.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: At Delphi, the priestess first refused Heracles a response because he had
murdered Iphitus.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Heracles seized and carried off the tripod, saying that he would construct
an oracle for himself.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: Apollo defended his sanctuary, fought with Heracles, and Zeus ended the combat
by flashing lightning between them.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:8
text: The Pythia ordered Heracles to be sold by Hermes for three years as a slave,
with the purchase-money assigned as compensation to Eurytus.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: Heracles served Omphale, rid her territory of robbers, and performed other
services requiring strength and courage.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: In Omphale's palace, Omphale wore Heracles' lion skin and helmet while Heracles
wore female garments, sat at her feet, spun wool, and recounted his adventures.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: After his bondage ended, Heracles left Omphale's palace and prepared revenge
against Laomedon and Augeas.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: Heracles sailed to Troy with companions, took the city, and killed Laomedon.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:13
text: Hesione ransomed her brother Podarces with her golden diadem, after which
he bore the name Priam, explained as the ransomed one.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:14
text: Heracles attacked Elis, killed Augeas and his sons, spared Phyleus, and gave
Phyleus the vacant throne.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:15
text: Heracles and Achelous competed for Deianeira in single combat; Achelous relied
on changing forms and finally became a bull, but Heracles broke off one horn and
forced his defeat.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:16
text: At a banquet, Heracles accidentally struck a serving youth on the head and
killed him; the youth's father absolved him, but Heracles chose exile according
to local law.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Heracles
description: Hero who kills Iphitus in madness, seeks purification, seizes the Delphic
tripod, serves Omphale, takes vengeance, wins Deianeira, and later goes into exile
after an accidental killing.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Iphitus
description: Heracles' young friend, killed when Heracles mistakes him for an enemy.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Admetus
description: Friend of Heracles whose wife Alcestis is restored to him.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Alcestis
description: Wife of Admetus restored to her husband by Heracles after a struggle
with Death.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Death
description: Personified opponent in the struggle after which Alcestis is restored.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Pythia / priestess at Delphi
description: Priestess who refuses and then gives Heracles an oracle commanding
expiatory slavery.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Apollo
description: God who defends his sanctuary when Heracles seizes the tripod.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Zeus
description: God who ends the struggle between Heracles and Apollo by flashing lightning
between them.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Hermes
description: God appointed to sell Heracles as a slave.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Omphale
description: Queen of Lydia who buys Heracles, receives his service, frees him,
offers marriage and kingdom, and dons his lion skin and helmet.
role_refs:
- role:14
- role:15
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Eurytus
description: Intended recipient of compensation for the death of his son Iphitus,
though he declines the money.
role_refs:
- role:16
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Laomedon
description: King at Troy whom Heracles kills in vengeance.
role_refs:
- role:17
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Telamon
description: Follower of Heracles who receives Hesione in marriage.
role_refs:
- role:18
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:14
name_or_label: Hesione
description: Daughter of Laomedon who ransoms her brother Podarces with a golden
diadem.
role_refs:
- role:19
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:15
name_or_label: Podarces / Priam
description: Brother of Hesione, prisoner of war ransomed with a golden diadem and
thereafter called Priam.
role_refs:
- role:20
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:16
name_or_label: Augeas
description: Enemy against whom Heracles takes vengeance by storming Elis and killing
him and his sons.
role_refs:
- role:17
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:10
- id: fig:17
name_or_label: Phyleus
description: Son or advocate of Augeas spared by Heracles and given his father's
throne.
role_refs:
- role:21
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:18
name_or_label: Deianeira
description: Daughter of Oeneus, wooed and won by Heracles, later travelling with
him to Trachin.
role_refs:
- role:22
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: fig:19
name_or_label: Achelous
description: River-god and rival suitor who can assume various forms and is defeated
by Heracles after becoming a bull.
role_refs:
- role:23
- role:24
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: fig:20
name_or_label: Oeneus
description: King of Aetolia, father of Deianeira, and host of the banquet at which
Heracles accidentally kills a youth.
role_refs:
- role:25
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: fig:21
name_or_label: Serving youth
description: Noble-born youth serving at Oeneus's banquet, accidentally killed by
Heracles.
role_refs:
- role:26
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: fig:22
name_or_label: Father of the serving youth
description: Witness who recognizes the death as accidental and absolves Heracles
from blame.
role_refs:
- role:27
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: fig:23
name_or_label: Hyllus
description: Young son of Heracles who accompanies Heracles and Deianeira toward
Trachin.
role_refs:
- role:28
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: fig:24
name_or_label: King Ceyx
description: Friend whom Heracles intends to visit at Trachin.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
roles:
- id: role:1
label: hero
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage repeatedly calls Heracles the hero and centers his actions.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:7
- id: role:2
label: killer seeking purification
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Heracles kills Iphitus and wanders seeking purification from the murder.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: sacrilegious oracle-seizer
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Heracles carries off the tripod after being refused a Delphic response.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: expiatory slave
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The Pythia orders him sold as a slave for three years in expiation.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: avenger and conqueror
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Heracles attacks Laomedon, Troy, Augeas, and Elis in vengeance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: role:6
label: friend and victim
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Iphitus is Heracles' friend and is killed by him during madness.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:7
label: host or friend
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:24
basis: Admetus and Ceyx are identified as friends connected with Heracles' visits.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:12
- id: role:8
label: restored wife
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Alcestis is restored to Admetus by Heracles.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:9
label: personified death-opponent
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Death is named as the opponent in Heracles' struggle over Alcestis.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:10
label: oracle-giver
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The priestess refuses and later gives an oracular command.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:11
label: sanctuary defender
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Apollo comes down to defend his sanctuary against Heracles' sacrilege.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:12
label: divine mediator
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Zeus ends the fight by flashing lightning between Heracles and Apollo.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:13
label: divine seller or conductor
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Hermes is to sell Heracles and conducts him to Omphale.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:14
label: queen and purchaser
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Omphale is queen of Lydia and pays three talents for Heracles.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:15
label: mistress and liberator
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Omphale frees Heracles, offers marriage and kingdom, and participates in
the palace role reversal.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:16
label: compensation recipient or rejecter
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: Eurytus is offered the purchase-money as compensation but declines it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:17
label: target of vengeance
assigned_to:
- fig:12
- fig:16
basis: Laomedon and Augeas are named as targets of Heracles' revenge.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: role:18
label: rewarded follower
assigned_to:
- fig:13
basis: Telamon receives Hesione in marriage from Heracles.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:19
label: ransom-giver
assigned_to:
- fig:14
basis: Hesione gives her golden diadem to ransom Podarces.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:20
label: ransomed prisoner
assigned_to:
- fig:15
basis: Podarces is a prisoner of war ransomed by Hesione and renamed Priam.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:21
label: spared successor
assigned_to:
- fig:17
basis: Heracles spares Phyleus and gives him the vacant throne.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:22
label: contested bride and wife
assigned_to:
- fig:18
basis: Deianeira is wooed by Heracles and contested by Achelous; later she accompanies
Heracles as wife.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: role:23
label: shapeshifting rival suitor
assigned_to:
- fig:19
basis: Achelous competes for Deianeira and trusts in his ability to assume forms.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:24
label: river-god
assigned_to:
- fig:19
basis: The passage identifies Achelous as the river-god.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:25
label: king and father-in-law
assigned_to:
- fig:20
basis: Oeneus is king of Aetolia, father of Deianeira, and father-in-law of Heracles.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: role:26
label: accidental victim
assigned_to:
- fig:21
basis: The serving youth is killed by Heracles' accidental blow.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: role:27
label: absolving witness
assigned_to:
- fig:22
basis: The father witnesses the death and absolves Heracles because it was accidental.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: role:28
label: accompanying son
assigned_to:
- fig:23
basis: Hyllus is named as Heracles' young son accompanying the journey to Trachin.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: tower lookout
literal_form: Tower near Tiryns used to search the surrounding country for the missing
herd.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: Delphic tripod
literal_form: Tripod seized and carried off by Heracles after the priestess refuses
a response.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: oracle sanctuary
literal_form: Temple of Delphi and Apollo's sanctuary where the conflict over the
tripod occurs.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: Zeus's lightning
literal_form: Lightning flashed between Heracles and Apollo to stop their combat.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: expiatory sale price
literal_form: Three talents paid for Heracles as a slave and directed as compensation
for Iphitus.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: lion skin and helmet
literal_form: Heracles' lion skin and helmet worn playfully by Omphale.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:7
label: female garments and spinning wool
literal_form: Female garments worn by Heracles while he sits at Omphale's feet spinning
wool.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:8
label: fleet to Troy
literal_form: Fleet of vessels collected by Heracles for the attack on Troy.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:12
- fig:13
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:9
label: golden diadem ransom
literal_form: Hesione's golden diadem handed over to ransom Podarces.
associated_figures:
- fig:14
- fig:15
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:10
label: bull form and broken horn
literal_form: Achelous' final bull form and the horn broken off by Heracles.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:19
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: sym:11
label: river-god
literal_form: Achelous identified as a river-god.
associated_figures:
- fig:19
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Madness and death on the tower
summary: Heracles and Iphitus search from a tower near Tiryns; Heracles is seized
by madness, mistakes Iphitus for an enemy, and kills him by throwing him down.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Purification wandering and restoration of Alcestis
summary: Heracles wanders seeking purification for Iphitus's death and, during the
wanderings, restores Alcestis to Admetus after struggling with Death.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Conflict at Delphi
summary: Heracles seeks an oracle, is refused by the priestess, seizes the tripod,
fights Apollo, and is stopped by Zeus's lightning.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Oracular expiation through slavery
summary: The Pythia commands that Heracles be sold by Hermes for three years as
a slave, with the price paid as compensation for Iphitus.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:6
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Heracles in Omphale's palace
summary: Heracles serves Omphale, frees her territory from robbers, is liberated
by her, and later participates in a role reversal in which Omphale wears his heroic
gear and he wears female garments and spins wool.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:6
label: Return to vengeance
summary: After his term of bondage ends, Heracles leaves Omphale and prepares revenge
against Laomedon and Augeas.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:12
- fig:16
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:7
label: Fall of Troy and ransom of Podarces
summary: Heracles sails to Troy, captures the city, kills Laomedon, gives Hesione
to Telamon, and allows Hesione to ransom Podarces with a golden diadem, leading
to the name Priam.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:12
- fig:13
- fig:14
- fig:15
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: scene:8
label: Vengeance against Augeas
summary: Heracles storms Elis, kills Augeas and his sons, spares Phyleus, and gives
him the throne.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:16
- fig:17
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: scene:9
label: Contest for Deianeira
summary: Heracles contests Achelous for Deianeira; Achelous changes forms and becomes
a bull, but Heracles breaks a horn and wins the combat.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:18
- fig:19
- fig:20
symbol_refs:
- sym:10
- sym:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: scene:10
label: Accidental banquet killing and exile
summary: At Oeneus's banquet Heracles accidentally kills a serving youth, is absolved
by the youth's father, but chooses exile and leaves for Trachin with Deianeira
and Hyllus.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:18
- fig:20
- fig:21
- fig:22
- fig:23
- fig:24
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: madness-caused mistaken killing
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Heracles' madness causes him to mistake a friend for an enemy and kill him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy family directly names madness or mistaken killing.
- id: motif:2
label: pollution, purification, and expiation after killing
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
- divine_judgment
basis: Heracles seeks purification after killing Iphitus and receives an oracular
expiation requiring three years of slavery and compensation money.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage frames expiation and compensation rather than an explicit
sacrificial rite.
- id: motif:3
label: heroic struggle with Death to restore a beloved
taxonomy_refs:
- resurrection
- stolen_beloved
basis: Heracles restores Alcestis to Admetus after a struggle with Death.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: This passage only briefly alludes to the Alcestis episode and says details
were related earlier.
- id: motif:4
label: sacred theft from an oracle
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_theft
basis: Heracles seizes the Delphic tripod when the priestess refuses him a response.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The object is a sanctuary implement; the passage calls the act sacrilege.
- id: motif:5
label: divine combat stopped by higher divine arbitration
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Apollo and Heracles fight over the sanctuary, and Zeus ends the combat with
lightning.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents intervention and cessation of combat rather than
a formal trial.
- id: motif:6
label: hero's temporary servitude as expiation
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
- sacred_exchange
basis: Heracles submits to being sold as a slave for three years, and the purchase
price is assigned as compensation.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The servitude is punitive and expiatory; initiation is only a broad possible
family fit.
- id: motif:7
label: role reversal of heroic arms and feminine labor
taxonomy_refs:
- duality
basis: Omphale wears Heracles' lion skin and helmet while Heracles wears female
garments and spins wool at her feet.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy specifically names gender role reversal or travesty.
- id: motif:8
label: return of heroic agency after bondage
taxonomy_refs:
- return
basis: When the term of bondage expires, Heracles leaves Omphale's palace and resumes
independent action and vengeance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: This is a return to action rather than a completed homecoming narrative.
- id: motif:9
label: vengeance against oath-breakers or treacherous rulers
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Heracles attacks and kills Laomedon and Augeas as retribution for their treacherous
or perfidious conduct.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage uses moral language of retribution but does not state a divine
sentence.
- id: motif:10
label: ransom naming of a royal survivor
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
- sacred_exchange
basis: Podarces is ransomed with Hesione's golden diadem and thereafter bears the
name Priam, explained as the ransomed one.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: The passage explains the name but does not elaborate later royal legitimacy.
- id: motif:11
label: combat for a bride against a shapeshifting river-god
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
- sacred_marriage
- water
basis: Heracles wins Deianeira through single combat with Achelous, who can assume
forms and finally becomes a bull.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: The taxonomy list includes water only as a symbol, not a motif family;
sacred_marriage is a broad fit for bride-winning contest.
- id: motif:12
label: accidental killing followed by voluntary exile
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
- divine_judgment
basis: Heracles accidentally kills a youth at a banquet, is absolved by the father,
but chooses to banish himself according to local law.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
confidence: medium
cautions: The departure is legal and ethical rather than explicitly divinely commanded.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 8170-8178
quote_or_summary: Heracles and Iphitus search for a missing herd from a tower near
Tiryns; Heracles is seized by madness, mistakes Iphitus for an enemy, hurls him
down, and Iphitus dies.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 8179-8185
quote_or_summary: Heracles wanders seeking purification for Iphitus's murder and
reaches Admetus's palace, where he restores Alcestis after a struggle with Death.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 8186-8198
quote_or_summary: At Delphi the priestess refuses Heracles an oracle because of
Iphitus's murder; Heracles seizes the tripod, Apollo defends the sanctuary, and
Zeus stops the struggle with lightning.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 8198-8203
quote_or_summary: The Pythia commands Heracles to expiate the crime by being sold
by Hermes for three years as a slave, with the price given to Eurytus as compensation.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 8204-8214
quote_or_summary: Heracles submits, is conducted by Hermes to Omphale of Lydia,
is bought for three talents, and later performs strong and courageous services
for Omphale, including clearing robbers.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 8215-8223
quote_or_summary: Omphale learns her slave is Heracles, frees him, offers marriage
and kingdom, and in her palace wears his lion skin and helmet while he wears female
garments and spins wool.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 8224-8230
quote_or_summary: When the term of bondage expires, Heracles leaves Omphale's palace
and resolves to take revenge against Laomedon and Augeas.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 8231-8236
quote_or_summary: Heracles gathers companions, collects a fleet, sails to Troy,
takes the city, and kills Laomedon.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 8237-8246
quote_or_summary: Heracles gives Hesione to Telamon; Hesione chooses to release
Podarces and ransoms him with her golden diadem, after which he is called Priam,
the ransomed one.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 8247-8252
quote_or_summary: Heracles attacks Augeas, storms Elis, kills Augeas and his sons,
spares Phyleus, and gives Phyleus the throne.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 8253-8260
quote_or_summary: Heracles woos Deianeira and fights Achelous, a river-god and rival
suitor who changes forms; after Achelous becomes a bull, Heracles breaks off a
horn and wins.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: lines 8261-8264
quote_or_summary: At Oeneus's banquet Heracles accidentally kills a noble serving
youth; although the father absolves him, Heracles chooses legal exile and leaves
for Trachin with Deianeira and Hyllus.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied English passage. Motif-family assignments
are cautious where supplied taxonomy labels are broader than the passage details.
No comparison claims were made because the passage itself does not support external
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: |-
All evidence is summarized from the public-domain passage. Taxonomy references are limited to supplied available refs; one candidate motif uses water as a symbolic association in its label basis but not as a motif-family taxonomy reference beyond the supplied context.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-roman-berens-myths-legends-gutenberg__l8170-l8264
passage_sha256=4efac5afba0ae7c7004f01a188375089855628e761d665787102985c444332d8