batch.motif.greek-roman-berens-myths-legends-gutenberg-l8325-l8402
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-roman-berens-myths-legends-gutenberg-l8325-l8402
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
passage_locator:
label: STORY OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE. / PELOPS. / HERACLES (HERCULES). / BELLEROPHON.;
lines 8325-8402
start: '8325'
end: '8402'
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: 'Bellerophon, after fleeing from an unpremeditated murder, is received
and purified by Proetus. Proetus'' wife Antea falsely accuses him after he rejects
her. Proetus sends him to Iobates with a tablet requesting his death. Iobates,
unwilling to kill a guest, sends him on dangerous missions: killing the Chimaera,
fighting the Solymans and Amazons, and surviving an ambush. With divine help,
including Pegasus and a bridle given by Athena in a dream, Bellerophon succeeds.
Iobates rewards him with rule and marriage, but Bellerophon later attempts to
ride Pegasus to heaven. Zeus sends a gadfly; Pegasus throws him down, and Bellerophon
spends the rest of his life in remorse and desolation. After death he is honored
as a hero in Corinth.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Bellerophon is identified as the son of Glaucus, king of Corinth, and grandson
of Sisyphus.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: After an unpremeditated murder, Bellerophon flees to Tiryns, where Proetus
receives and purifies him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Antea falls in love with Bellerophon, is not reciprocated, and slanders him
to Proetus.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: Proetus sends Bellerophon to Iobates with a tablet containing signs that indicate
the bearer should be put to death.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Iobates hosts Bellerophon for nine days and only asks his name and errand
on the tenth morning.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: Iobates decides not to kill Bellerophon directly but to send him on dangerous
enterprises.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: The Chimaera has a lion forepart, goat center, dragon hindpart, and flames
issuing from its jaws.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Before facing the Chimaera, Bellerophon prays to the gods, and Pegasus is
sent to aid him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: Athena appears to Bellerophon in a dream beside the sacred spring Pirene and
gives him a magic bridle.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: Bellerophon captures and mounts Pegasus, rises into the air, and kills the
Chimaera with arrows.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: Bellerophon defeats the Solymans and then the Amazons.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: Bellerophon survives an ambush by Lycians and kills all the attackers.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:13
text: Iobates concludes that Bellerophon is protected by the gods and stops persecuting
him.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:14
text: Iobates gives Bellerophon a share in government and his daughter in marriage.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:15
text: Bellerophon attempts to mount to heaven on Pegasus; Zeus sends a gadfly, Pegasus
throws him down, and he wanders in desolate places afterward.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:16
text: After death, Bellerophon is honored in Corinth as a hero and receives an altar
in Poseidon's grove.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Bellerophon / Bellerophontes
description: Son of Glaucus and grandson of Sisyphus; guest, accused youth, performer
of dangerous exploits, rider of Pegasus, and later fallen hero.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:5
- role:8
- role:10
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Glaucus
description: King of Corinth and father of Bellerophon.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Sisyphus
description: Grandfather of Bellerophon.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Proetus
description: King of Tiryns; host who purifies Bellerophon and later sends him with
a tablet requesting his death.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Antea
description: Wife of Proetus who desires Bellerophon and then slanders him after
rejection.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Iobates
description: King of Lycia and father-in-law of Proetus; host who assigns dangerous
tasks and later rewards Bellerophon.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:6
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Chimaera
description: Devastating monster with lion, goat, and dragon parts and fire issuing
from its jaws.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Pegasus
description: Immortal winged horse, offspring of Poseidon and Medusa, who aids Bellerophon
and later throws him after being stung by a gadfly.
role_refs:
- role:8
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:9
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Pallas-Athene
description: Goddess who appears in a dream and gives Bellerophon a magic bridle.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Poseidon
description: Named as father of Pegasus; his grove contains Bellerophon's altar
after death.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:10
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Medusa
description: Named as mother of Pegasus.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Solymans
description: Fierce neighboring tribe against whom Bellerophon is sent.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Amazons
description: Much-dreaded opponents against whom Bellerophon is sent.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:14
name_or_label: Lycians in ambush
description: Bravest Lycians placed in ambush by Iobates to destroy Bellerophon.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:15
name_or_label: Zeus
description: God who punishes Bellerophon by sending a gadfly to sting Pegasus.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:16
name_or_label: Daughter of Iobates
description: Unnamed daughter given to Bellerophon in marriage.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
roles:
- id: role:1
label: fugitive and purified offender
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Bellerophon flees after an unpremeditated murder and is purified by Proetus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: host
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:6
basis: Proetus receives Bellerophon at Tiryns; Iobates entertains him as a guest
for nine days.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: sender of death message
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Proetus sends Bellerophon with a tablet indicating that the bearer should
be put to death.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: false accuser
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Antea slanders Bellerophon to Proetus after he rejects her affection.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:5
label: bearer of lethal tablet
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Bellerophon carries the letter entrusted to him by Proetus to Iobates.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:6
label: assigner of dangerous tasks
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Iobates chooses to send Bellerophon on enterprises likely to kill him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:7
label: dangerous opponent
assigned_to:
- fig:7
- fig:12
- fig:13
- fig:14
basis: Bellerophon is sent against the Chimaera, Solymans, Amazons, and ambushing
Lycians.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:8
label: divine or supernatural aid
assigned_to:
- fig:8
- fig:9
basis: Pegasus is sent in answer to prayer, and Athena provides the magic bridle
in a dream.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:9
label: reward-giver and marriage partner
assigned_to:
- fig:6
- fig:16
basis: Iobates gives Bellerophon a share in government and his daughter in marriage.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:10
label: victorious hero
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Bellerophon kills the Chimaera, defeats enemy groups, and survives the ambush.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:11
label: punished transgressor and punishing god
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:8
- fig:15
basis: Bellerophon attempts to mount to heaven; Zeus sends a gadfly, Pegasus throws
him, and he falls to earth.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:12
label: genealogical or cultic association
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:10
- fig:11
basis: The passage names Bellerophon's father and grandfather, Pegasus' parents,
and Poseidon's grove as the site of Bellerophon's altar.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:10
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: lethal tablet
literal_form: Letter or tablet with mysterious signs requesting the bearer's death
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: sym:2
label: composite fire-breathing monster
literal_form: Chimaera with lion forepart, goat center, dragon hindpart, and flames
from its jaws
associated_figures:
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: winged horse
literal_form: Immortal-winged horse Pegasus
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:9
- id: sym:4
label: magic bridle
literal_form: Bridle presented by Athena in a dream and found beside Bellerophon
upon waking
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:8
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: sym:5
label: sacred spring Pirene
literal_form: Sacred spring beside which Bellerophon sleeps and dreams of Athena
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: gadfly
literal_form: Gadfly sent by Zeus to sting Pegasus
associated_figures:
- fig:8
- fig:15
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:7
label: hero altar in Poseidon's grove
literal_form: Altar erected to Bellerophon in the grove of Poseidon
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Flight, purification, and slander at Tiryns
summary: Bellerophon flees after an unpremeditated murder, is received and purified
by Proetus, and is falsely accused by Antea after rejecting her.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Death tablet and guest reception in Lycia
summary: Proetus sends Bellerophon to Iobates with a lethal tablet. Iobates hosts
him for nine days before asking his identity and errand.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Divine aid and the killing of the Chimaera
summary: Bellerophon prays for help, receives aid through Pegasus and Athena's magic
bridle, captures the winged horse, rises into the air, and kills the Chimaera.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: Victories over Solymans, Amazons, and ambushers
summary: Iobates sends Bellerophon against the Solymans and Amazons, and later arranges
a Lycian ambush; Bellerophon survives and defeats them all.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:6
- fig:12
- fig:13
- fig:14
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:5
label: Recognition and reward
summary: Iobates recognizes Bellerophon as protected by the gods, ends his persecution,
grants him a share in government, and gives him his daughter in marriage.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:6
- fig:16
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: scene:6
label: Attempted ascent and fall
summary: After attaining prosperity, Bellerophon tries to mount to heaven on Pegasus.
Zeus sends a gadfly, Pegasus throws him, and Bellerophon falls to earth and wanders
in remorse.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:8
- fig:15
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: scene:7
label: Posthumous hero honor
summary: After death, Bellerophon is honored as a hero in Corinth and receives an
altar in Poseidon's grove.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: false accusation after rejected desire
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Antea falls in love with Bellerophon, is rejected, and slanders him to Proetus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives this episode briefly and does not compare it with other
false-accusation traditions.
- id: motif:2
label: message that orders the bearer's death
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Proetus sends Bellerophon with a tablet whose signs request that the bearer
be put to death.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: No explicit comparison is made in the passage.
- id: motif:3
label: dangerous tasks used as indirect execution
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: Iobates cannot bring himself to kill Bellerophon as a guest and instead sends
him on perilous enterprises likely to cause his death.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The initiation taxonomy reference is functional and should be reviewed;
the passage frames the tasks primarily as attempted destruction.
- id: motif:4
label: divinely aided monster-slaying from the air
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Bellerophon receives Pegasus and Athena's bridle, mounts the winged horse,
rises into the air, and kills the fire-breathing Chimaera.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: No available taxonomy ref precisely names winged-horse monster-slaying.
- id: motif:5
label: royal reward through rule and marriage
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
- sacred_marriage
basis: After Bellerophon's victories, Iobates gives him a share in government and
his daughter in marriage.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The marriage is royal but not explicitly sacred in the passage; taxonomy
assignment needs review.
- id: motif:6
label: prideful ascent to heaven punished by a god
taxonomy_refs:
- ascent
- divine_judgment
basis: Bellerophon attempts to mount to heaven on Pegasus; Zeus punishes him by
sending a gadfly, causing his fall and later desolation.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: The passage interprets the act as impiety and the result as punishment,
but does not compare it with other ascent myths.
- id: motif:7
label: posthumous hero cult
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: After death, Bellerophon is honored in Corinth as a hero and receives an
altar in Poseidon's grove.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The passage states the cultic honor but gives no ritual details.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage supports a cautious classification of Bellerophon's attempted
ride to heaven as an ascent motif combined with divine judgment.
claim_level: same_motif
target: ascent; divine_judgment
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: This is a taxonomy-level comparison only; the passage does not identify
parallel stories or historical relationships.
- id: claim:2
claim: The passage explicitly places Iobates' nine-day reception of Bellerophon
within Greek hospitality custom, supporting comparison with a guest-host obligation
pattern in Greek narrative.
claim_level: same_function
target: Greek hospitable custom / guest-host obligation pattern
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage mentions the custom but does not elaborate formal xenia
rules or compare other episodes.
- id: claim:3
claim: The dangerous missions assigned by Iobates function as a repeated ordeal
pattern in which a ruler tries to eliminate a hero indirectly through lethal tasks.
claim_level: same_function
target: indirect execution by impossible or dangerous tasks
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
- ev:8
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: This is a functional pattern claim based on the passage sequence, not
an assertion of historical contact or common inheritance.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 8325-8333
quote_or_summary: Bellerophon is named as son of Glaucus and grandson of Sisyphus;
after an unpremeditated murder he flees to Tiryns, is purified by Proetus, and
is slandered by Antea after rejecting her love.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 8334-8345
quote_or_summary: Proetus sends Bellerophon to Iobates with a tablet of mysterious
signs requesting his death; Iobates hosts him in Greek hospitable fashion for
nine days and inquires on the tenth morning.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 8346-8354
quote_or_summary: After reading the letter, Iobates is horrified but decides to
send Bellerophon on dangerous enterprises because he cannot kill a guest he esteems.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 8355-8359
quote_or_summary: Iobates first sends Bellerophon to kill the Chimaera, described
as a monster devastating the country, with lion, goat, and dragon body parts and
flames issuing from its jaws.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 8360-8370
quote_or_summary: Bellerophon prays for divine protection; the gods send Pegasus.
Athena appears in a dream beside the sacred spring Pirene and gives him a magic
bridle, which he finds beside him upon waking.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 8371-8375
quote_or_summary: Bellerophon bridles Pegasus, mounts him, rises into the air, and
kills the Chimaera with arrows.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 8376-8381
quote_or_summary: Iobates sends Bellerophon against the Solymans and then the Amazons;
Bellerophon returns victorious from both conflicts.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 8382-8389
quote_or_summary: Iobates sets brave Lycians in ambush to destroy Bellerophon, but
Bellerophon kills them all; Iobates concludes that he is favored and protected
by the gods and stops persecuting him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 8390-8399
quote_or_summary: Iobates gives Bellerophon rule and his daughter in marriage. Later
Bellerophon becomes proud, tries to mount to heaven on Pegasus, and is punished
by Zeus, who sends a gadfly; Pegasus throws him, and he wanders in remorse and
melancholy.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 8400-8402
quote_or_summary: After death, Bellerophon is honored in Corinth as a hero, and
an altar is erected to him in the grove of Poseidon.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek-roman/project-gutenberg/myths-legends-ancient-greece-rome-berens.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: The passage is a clear prose retelling with explicit sequence, figures, and
actions. Some taxonomy assignments, especially initiation and sacred_marriage,
are functional and require human review.
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 provided passage and metadata were used. Taxonomy refs were limited to supplied options and left empty where no supplied ref fit directly.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-roman-berens-myths-legends-gutenberg__l8325-l8402
passage_sha256=86bc701c4a568ffca94606c07bbb88fa57693e4ca1b79a839595c35af5fb71eb