batch.motif.greek-odyssey-butler-gutenberg-l4170-l4268
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-odyssey-butler-gutenberg-l4170-l4268
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
passage_locator:
label: BOOK VII / RECEPTION OF ULYSSES AT THE PALACE OF KING ALCINOUS. / BOOK VIII
/ BOOK IX; lines 4170-4268
start: '4170'
end: '4268'
translation: The Odyssey
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Ulysses describes escaping Polyphemus' cave by tying his companions beneath
sheep and clinging under a ram. After reaching the ship with sheep, he taunts
the Cyclops. Polyphemus hurls rocks at the ship; Ulysses reveals his true name.
Polyphemus recalls a prophecy that Ulysses would blind him, invokes Neptune as
his father, and prays that Ulysses may not reach home, or may return late, bereft
of his men, in another man's ship, and find trouble at home.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Ulysses plans to save himself and his companions by binding male sheep in
groups of three, with a man hidden beneath the middle sheep.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Ulysses hides beneath the belly of a superior ram by holding onto its fleece.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: In the morning Polyphemus feels the backs of the sheep but does not detect
the men hidden under their bellies.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Polyphemus speaks to the ram, wondering why it leaves last and lamenting that
Noman has blinded him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: After leaving the cave, Ulysses frees himself and his companions and drives
the sheep to the ship.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: The crew rejoices over the survivors and weeps for those killed by the Cyclops;
Ulysses signals them to be quiet and to put out to sea.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Ulysses taunts Polyphemus from the ship and says the gods have punished him
for eating visitors in his house.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Polyphemus throws the top of a high mountain toward the ship; the falling
rock makes the sea quake and drives the ship back toward shore.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: Ulysses' men beg him not to provoke Polyphemus further because the Cyclops
can throw rocks a long distance.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: Ulysses ignores the warning and reveals his name, parentage, and homeland
to Polyphemus.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:11
text: Polyphemus recalls a prophecy by Telemus son of Eurymus that he would lose
his sight by the hand of Ulysses.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:12
text: Polyphemus states that Neptune is his father and asks Neptune to affect Ulysses'
return home.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:13
text: Polyphemus prays that Ulysses may never reach home, or, if he must return,
that he arrive late, in distress, without his men, in another man's ship, and
find trouble in his house.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Ulysses
description: Narrator of the episode; escapes under a ram, directs his men, taunts
Polyphemus, and identifies himself as son of Laertes from Ithaca.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:8
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Ulysses' companions and crew
description: Men hidden beneath sheep, survivors who reach the ship, row away, mourn
the dead, and urge Ulysses not to provoke Polyphemus further.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Polyphemus / the Cyclops
description: Blinded cave-dwelling monster who tends sheep, speaks to his ram, throws
rocks at the ship, recalls a prophecy, and prays to Neptune.
role_refs:
- role:6
- role:7
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Ram
description: A finer ram under whose belly Ulysses hides; Polyphemus addresses it
as his good ram when it leaves last.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Male sheep
description: Well-grown sheep with heavy black fleece, bound in threes to conceal
Ulysses' companions beneath them.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Telemus son of Eurymus
description: A seer remembered by Polyphemus as having prophesied that Ulysses would
blind him.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Neptune
description: Named by Polyphemus as his father and invoked to determine or hinder
Ulysses' homeward journey.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Jove and the other gods
description: Named by Ulysses as punishing Polyphemus for eating visitors.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
roles:
- id: role:1
label: escape planner
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Ulysses says he schemed to save his life and the lives of his companions
by using the sheep.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: taunter and name-revealer
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Ulysses jeers at Polyphemus and later gives his true name, father, and homeland.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:8
- id: role:3
label: endangered homeward traveler
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Polyphemus prays that Ulysses may never reach home or may reach it late and
in trouble.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:4
label: rescued companions
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The companions are hidden under sheep and freed after leaving the cave.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: cautioning crew
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The men beg Ulysses not to provoke the Cyclops again.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: blinded captor
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Polyphemus is in pain, has lost his eye, and has held the men in his cave.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:7
label: rock-throwing pursuer
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Polyphemus throws a mountain-top toward the ship and threatens further violence.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:8
label: divine petitioner
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Polyphemus lifts his hands to heaven and prays to Neptune.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:9
label: concealment animal
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:5
basis: The sheep and ram physically conceal Ulysses and his companions during their
escape.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:10
label: seer
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Polyphemus calls Telemus an excellent seer who prophesied for the Cyclopes.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:11
label: divine father invoked for aid
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Polyphemus says Neptune is his father and asks him to influence Ulysses'
journey.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: role:12
label: divine punishers named in speech
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Ulysses says Jove and the other gods have punished Polyphemus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: cave
literal_form: Polyphemus' cave
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- cave
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:2
label: ram and sheep concealment
literal_form: Ram's belly, heavy fleece, and sheep bound in threes
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: ship
literal_form: Ulysses' ship used for escape by sea
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:11
- id: sym:4
label: mountain rock
literal_form: Top torn from a high mountain and thrown into the sea
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:5
label: sea
literal_form: Grey sea and waves driven by the thrown rock
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: sym:6
label: blinded eye
literal_form: Polyphemus' lost eye
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: sym:7
label: true name
literal_form: Ulysses' self-identification as son of Laertes from Ithaca
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:8
label: raised hands to heaven
literal_form: Polyphemus lifting his hands to the firmament in prayer
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Escape arranged under sheep
summary: Ulysses binds sheep in threes so that his companions can hide beneath them,
while he hides under a ram's belly.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Polyphemus fails to detect the fugitives
summary: At morning, Polyphemus feels the sheep's backs but does not discover the
men beneath; he addresses the ram before letting it out.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Return to the ship
summary: Outside the cave area, Ulysses and his companions free themselves, drive
the sheep to the ship, and put out to sea while suppressing lamentation.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Taunt and rock attack
summary: Ulysses taunts Polyphemus, who responds by throwing a mountain-top near
the ship and driving it back toward shore.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Name revealed and prophecy recalled
summary: Ulysses reveals his true identity; Polyphemus recognizes the fulfillment
of Telemus' prophecy that Ulysses would blind him.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: scene:6
label: Prayer to Neptune against Ulysses' return
summary: Polyphemus invokes Neptune as his father and prays against Ulysses' safe
or timely homecoming.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Escape through concealment beneath animals
taxonomy_refs:
- trickster_boundary
basis: Ulysses saves himself and his companions by hiding beneath sheep and a ram
so the blinded Cyclops cannot detect them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy link to trickster_boundary is interpretive; the literal passage
gives concealment and cunning but not a formal motif label.
- id: motif:2
label: Monster's failed detection of hidden fugitives
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Polyphemus feels the backs of the sheep but fails to discover the men hidden
under their bellies.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy reference directly names this motif.
- id: motif:3
label: Hero's boast revealing true identity
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Against his companions' warning, Ulysses shouts his true name, lineage, and
homeland to Polyphemus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents the act clearly, but broader narrative consequences
are only partly included in this excerpt.
- id: motif:4
label: Hospitality violation punished by gods
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
- divine_judgment
basis: Ulysses accuses Polyphemus of eating visitors in his house and says Jove
and the other gods have punished him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The wording supports divine punishment and guest-host violation; the sacred_exchange
taxonomy association is cautious.
- id: motif:5
label: Prophecy fulfilled in unexpected form
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Polyphemus recalls that Telemus foretold he would lose his sight by Ulysses,
though he expected a more imposing attacker.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The wisdom taxonomy reference is broad; the passage specifically concerns
prophecy and recognition.
- id: motif:6
label: Divine parent invoked by injured child
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_parent_child
basis: Polyphemus states that Neptune is his father and prays to him after being
blinded.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: The motif is limited here to a stated father-son relation and a prayer
for intervention.
- id: motif:7
label: Cursed or obstructed homecoming
taxonomy_refs:
- return
basis: Polyphemus prays that Ulysses may never reach home, or may arrive late, suffering,
without his men, in another man's ship, and find trouble in his house.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: The excerpt contains the curse; later fulfillment lies outside the provided
passage.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 4170-4183
quote_or_summary: 'Ulysses devises a plan: male sheep with heavy black fleece are
bound in threes, with a man under the middle sheep; Ulysses hides under the belly
of a fine ram by gripping its fleece.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 4185-4192
quote_or_summary: At morning the male sheep go out, the ewes wait to be milked,
and Polyphemus feels the backs of the sheep without discovering the hidden men
underneath.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: quote
locator: 4192-4207
quote_or_summary: Polyphemus addresses the ram and says his master has lost his
eye because “wicked Noman and his horrid crew” blinded him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 4208-4218
quote_or_summary: After the ram leaves the cave area, Ulysses gets out, frees his
companions, drives the sheep to the ship, silences mourning, and orders the crew
to put out to sea.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: quote
locator: 4219-4225
quote_or_summary: Ulysses taunts the Cyclops for eating visitors in his cave and
says, “Jove and the other gods have punished you.”
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 4226-4233
quote_or_summary: Polyphemus tears the top from a high mountain and throws it near
the ship; the rock makes the sea quake and the wave drives the ship back toward
shore.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 4234-4244
quote_or_summary: The men beg Ulysses not to provoke the savage creature again,
warning that another thrown rock could destroy their heads and the ship's timbers.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: quote
locator: 4245-4248
quote_or_summary: Ulysses shouts that the one who put out the Cyclops' eye was “Ulysses,
son of Laertes, who lives in Ithaca.”
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 4249-4258
quote_or_summary: 'Polyphemus groans that an old prophecy is coming true: Telemus
son of Eurymus, an excellent seer, said he would lose his sight by the hand of
Ulysses.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: quote
locator: 4258-4264
quote_or_summary: Polyphemus says, “Neptune and I are father and son,” and says
Neptune may heal him if he wills.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: 4265-4268
quote_or_summary: Polyphemus raises his hands to heaven and prays to Neptune that
Ulysses may never reach home alive, or may return late, in distress, after losing
all his men, in another man's ship, and find trouble at home.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is based entirely on the supplied passage. Motif labels
using supplied taxonomy are cautious and require review, especially broad labels
such as trickster_boundary, sacred_exchange, and wisdom.
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 external comparisons were added; comparison_claims is empty because the passage itself does not explicitly compare this episode with another tradition or corpus.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-odyssey-butler-gutenberg__l4170-l4268
passage_sha256=c8a19b65c0c7010754c366693d2ce0c2a30495220571b2470bb952055e59d6d2