batch.motif.greek-odyssey-butler-gutenberg-l4588-l4678
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-odyssey-butler-gutenberg-l4588-l4678
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
passage_locator:
label: BOOK VIII / BOOK IX / BOOK X / AEOLUS, THE LAESTRYGONES, CIRCE.; lines 4588-4678
start: '4588'
end: '4678'
translation: The Odyssey
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Ulysses requires Circe to swear not to harm him before he sleeps with her.
Circe's servants bathe, dress, and feed him, but he refuses to eat until his companions
are restored. Circe uses her wand and a second drug to return the men from pig
form to human form, improved in appearance. Ulysses returns to the ship, tells
the remaining men to secure the vessel and property in a cave, and leads them
toward Circe's house. Eurylochus warns against going, comparing the danger to
the Cyclops episode, but the group proceeds and Eurylochus follows after being
reprimanded.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Ulysses says he will not go to bed with Circe unless she first swears a solemn
oath not to plot further harm against him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Circe swears as Ulysses asks, and after the oath Ulysses goes to bed with
her.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Circe has four housemaid servants described as children of groves, fountains,
and holy waters running down to the sea.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The servants prepare seats, tables, wine, water, a cauldron, fire, a bath,
clothing, hand-washing water, bread, and other food for Ulysses.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Ulysses refuses to eat or drink and remains suspicious until his friends are
set free and he sees them.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Circe goes through the court with her wand, opens the pigsty doors, and the
men come out in hog form.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Circe anoints each transformed man with a second drug; their bristles fall
off, and they become human again, younger, taller, and better looking than before.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: The restored men recognize Ulysses, clasp his hand, and weep for joy.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: Circe tells Ulysses to return to the sea, draw the ship onto land, hide the
ship's gear and property in a cave, and return with his men.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: The men at the ship weep before Ulysses returns, then rejoice at seeing him
as if they had reached Ithaca.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: Eurylochus warns the men not to go to Circe's house, saying she may turn them
into pigs, wolves, or lions to guard her house.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: Eurylochus invokes the Cyclops cave episode as a warning and blames Ulysses'
folly for the loss of men there.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:13
text: Ulysses considers killing Eurylochus, but the men intercede; Eurylochus ultimately
follows the group inland.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Ulysses
description: Leader who negotiates an oath with Circe, refuses food until his men
are freed, returns to the ship, and reprimands Eurylochus.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:8
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Circe
description: Woman with a wand and drugs who had turned Ulysses' men into pigs and
then restores them; she hosts Ulysses and gives instructions about the ship and
cave.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Ulysses' transformed companions
description: Men changed into pigs or hogs who are restored to human form and recognize
Ulysses.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Circe's four servants
description: Housemaids described as children of groves, fountains, and holy waters,
who prepare bath, food, drink, and furnishings.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Men at the ship
description: Companions waiting by the ship who mourn, rejoice when Ulysses returns,
and then go inland toward Circe's house.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Eurylochus
description: A near relation of Ulysses who tries to restrain the men from going
to Circe's house and recalls the Cyclops episode.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
roles:
- id: role:1
label: wary negotiator
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: He makes Circe swear not to harm him before agreeing to intimacy.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: leader demanding companions' release
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: He refuses food and drink until his friends are freed and later directs the
men to secure the ship.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: role:3
label: enchanting captor and restorer
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: She had transformed the men into pigs and then uses wand and drug to restore
them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: role:4
label: host
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Her household prepares bathing, seating, drink, bread, and other food for
Ulysses.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: restored companions
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: They emerge from the pigsty in animal form and become men again after Circe's
second drug.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:6
label: attendant nature-born servants
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: They are identified as housemaids and children of groves, fountains, and
holy waters, and they serve Ulysses.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:7
label: waiting ship companions
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: They remain at the ship, mourn, rejoice at Ulysses' return, and then prepare
to go to Circe's house.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: role:8
label: dissenting counselor
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: He warns the group not to enter Circe's house and invokes the Cyclops disaster.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: solemn oath
literal_form: spoken oath by Circe not to plot further harm
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: wand
literal_form: Circe's wand carried when opening the pigsty doors
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: second drug
literal_form: drug applied by Circe to the transformed men to remove bristles and
restore human form
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: pig or hog form
literal_form: men appearing as pigs or prime hogs before restoration
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: bath water and cauldron fire
literal_form: boiling cauldron, fire, mixed hot and cold water, and bath
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- water
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:6
label: hospitality meal
literal_form: wine mixed with water, golden cups, bread, tables, and food
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: sym:7
label: cave storage place
literal_form: cave where ship's gear and property are to be hidden
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- cave
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:8
label: ship drawn onto land
literal_form: ship at the sea shore to be hauled onto land before the group returns
inland
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Oath before intimacy
summary: Ulysses refuses Circe's invitation to bed until she swears not to harm
him; after the oath, he sleeps with her.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Bath and meal offered, but refused
summary: Circe's nature-born servants bathe, clothe, seat, and serve Ulysses, but
he refuses to eat or drink while his companions remain captive.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Restoration of transformed men
summary: Circe opens the pigsty, applies a second drug to the men, and they change
from hog form back into improved human form; they recognize Ulysses and weep.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Return to the ship and instructions to secure property
summary: Circe tells Ulysses to draw the ship onto land and hide gear in a cave;
Ulysses returns to the shore, reunites with the waiting men, and repeats the instructions.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:5
label: Eurylochus' warning and reluctant following
summary: Eurylochus tries to stop the men from going to Circe's house, warning of
further transformations and citing the Cyclops episode. Ulysses considers violence,
the men intercede, and Eurylochus follows after all.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: human-to-animal transformation and restoration
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
basis: Circe's men had been made into pigs; she uses a second drug to remove the
animal traits and restore them as men.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage emphasizes Circe's magical transformation of others rather
than Circe herself changing shape.
- id: motif:2
label: harm-preventing oath before union
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: Ulysses requires a solemn oath of non-harm before agreeing to go to bed with
Circe.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy fit is interpretive; the text presents a negotiated oath
and sexual encounter, not an explicit ritual exchange.
- id: motif:3
label: refusal of hospitality until companions are released
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Ulysses refuses food and drink in Circe's house until his friends are freed
and brought before him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy family precisely names this pattern.
- id: motif:4
label: cave used for concealment of travel goods
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Circe and Ulysses instruct the men to hide ship gear and property in a cave
before returning inland.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The cave functions as storage in this passage, not as a full cave-adventure
setting.
- id: motif:5
label: fear of repeated monster-house entrapment
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Eurylochus warns that entering Circe's house may lead to animal transformation
and explicitly recalls the earlier Cyclops cave disaster.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: This is a speech-based warning within the narrative rather than a completed
repeated event in the passage.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: Eurylochus explicitly frames Circe's house as comparable in danger to the
Cyclops cave episode, using the earlier loss of comrades as a warning against
entering another threatening dwelling.
claim_level: same_function
target: Odyssey Cyclops cave episode within the same epic tradition
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: The comparison is made by a character's speech; it does not prove that
the two episodes share all narrative details or historical origins.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 4588-4597
quote_or_summary: Ulysses says he will not go to bed with Circe unless she swears
not to harm him; she swears, and he then goes to bed with her.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; excerpt summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 4598-4621
quote_or_summary: Circe's four servants, described as children of groves, fountains,
and holy waters, prepare furnishings, wine, boiling water, a bath, clothing, washing
water, bread, and other food for Ulysses.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; excerpt summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 4622-4635
quote_or_summary: Circe asks why Ulysses refuses meat and drink; Ulysses answers
that no right-minded man would eat or drink until his friends are freed and seen
with his own eyes.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; excerpt summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 4636-4648
quote_or_summary: Circe goes with her wand, opens the pigsty, and the men come out
as hogs; she anoints each with a second drug, their bristles fall away, and they
become men again, younger, taller, and better looking.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; excerpt summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 4648-4654
quote_or_summary: Circe tells Ulysses to return to the sea, draw the ship onto land,
hide the ship's gear and property in a cave, and return with his men.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; excerpt summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 4655-4668
quote_or_summary: Ulysses returns to the shore and finds the men at the ship weeping;
they rejoice at his return as if safely home in Ithaca, and he tells them to secure
the ship and go with him to Circe's house.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; excerpt summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 4669-4674
quote_or_summary: Eurylochus warns against going to Circe's house, saying she will
turn them into pigs, wolves, or lions, and recalls how the Cyclops treated comrades
who entered his cave with Ulysses.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; excerpt summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 4675-4678
quote_or_summary: Ulysses considers killing Eurylochus, but the men intercede; the
group goes inland, and Eurylochus follows because he fears Ulysses' reprimand.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; excerpt summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Core extraction is directly supported by the passage. Motif taxonomy assignments
are limited where supplied taxonomy labels do not precisely match the local narrative
pattern.
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; comparison claim is limited to the explicit Cyclops comparison voiced by Eurylochus.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-odyssey-butler-gutenberg__l4588-l4678
passage_sha256=928e78853bde60a1ae9d14351bd15b4ef4f52f549fa6103c1c6b0ada17c3a5c4