batch.motif.greek-odyssey-butler-gutenberg-l5513-l5608
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-odyssey-butler-gutenberg-l5513-l5608
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
passage_locator:
label: BOOK XI / THE VISIT TO THE DEAD.88 / BOOK XII / THE SIRENS, SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS,
THE CATTLE OF THE SUN.; lines 5513-5608
start: '5513'
end: '5608'
translation: The Odyssey
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Odysseus recounts concealing the danger of Scylla from his crew, arming
himself, passing between Scylla and Charybdis, losing six men to Scylla, reaching
the island of the sun-god's cattle, warning the crew not to land or touch the
herds, yielding after Eurylochus objects, exacting an oath, sheltering through
a storm, and praying apart from his men while hunger pressures the crew.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Odysseus does not tell the men about Scylla because he thinks they would stop
rowing and huddle in the hold.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Odysseus disobeys Circe's instructions in one respect by putting on armour
and taking two spears to the ship's bows.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The ship enters a strait with Scylla on one side and Charybdis on the other.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Charybdis sucks up and vomits out salt water, creating a whirlpool with deafening
noise and visible black sand and mud at the bottom.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: While the crew attends to Charybdis, Scylla snatches six of Odysseus's best
men and carries them to her rock and den.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: The captured men call Odysseus's name and stretch out their hands to him before
being eaten by Scylla.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: After passing the rocks, the ship reaches the island of the sun-god, where
cattle and sheep belonging to Hyperion are heard from the sea.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Odysseus remembers warnings from Teiresias and Circe to shun the island of
the blessed sun-god.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: Eurylochus argues that the exhausted men should land by the ship, cook supper,
sleep, and depart in the morning.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: Odysseus yields to the men but requires an oath that they will not kill any
cattle or sheep and will eat only the food from Circe.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: The men swear the oath, moor near a fresh-water stream, cook supper, mourn
the men eaten by Scylla, and sleep.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: Jove raises a hurricane at night, covering land and sea with thick clouds.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:13
text: At dawn the ship is brought to land and drawn into a cave where sea-nymphs
hold courts and dances.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:14
text: Odysseus again warns the men not to touch the cattle and sheep, saying they
belong to the mighty sun who sees and hears everything.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:15
text: For a month winds prevent departure; after ship provisions run out, the men
hunt birds and whatever they can catch because they are starving.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:16
text: Odysseus goes inland alone, washes his hands, prays to the Olympian gods,
and is sent into sleep.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Odysseus / Ulysses
description: Narrating leader of the ship's crew who arms himself, warns the men,
requires an oath, and later prays inland.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- ev:9
- ev:11
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Scylla
description: An awful monster of the rock who snatches six men from the ship, carries
them to her rock, and eats them at the mouth of her den.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Charybdis
description: A dread being or force that sucks up and vomits salt water, forming
a destructive whirlpool in the strait.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Six best men / captured comrades
description: Six men from Odysseus's crew are snatched by Scylla and cry out to
Odysseus before being eaten.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Odysseus's men / crew
description: The exhausted crew rows through the strait, approves Eurylochus's proposal,
swears an oath, mourns lost comrades, and later suffers hunger.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:10
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Eurylochus
description: A crewman who answers Odysseus insolently and argues for landing to
eat and rest.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Teiresias
description: The blind Theban prophet whose prophecy warned Odysseus about danger
at the sun-god's island.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Circe
description: Aeaean Circe warned Odysseus to shun the island of the blessed sun-god
and had supplied food for the crew.
role_refs:
- role:8
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Sun-god / Hyperion / mighty sun
description: Divine owner of the cattle and sheep on the island; described as seeing
and hearing everything.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:9
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Jove
description: Divine figure who raises a great gale of wind and hurricane during
the night.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Sea-nymphs
description: Beings associated with a cave where they hold courts and dances.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Gods in Olympus
description: Divine recipients of Odysseus's prayer who send him into sleep.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
roles:
- id: role:1
label: ship leader and narrator
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: He directs the men, recounts the events in first person, and makes decisions
about the ship and crew.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: role:2
label: ritual petitioner
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: He washes his hands and prays to the Olympian gods while apart from the crew.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:3
label: man-eating rock monster
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: She seizes six men, carries them to her rock, and eats them at the mouth
of her den.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: whirlpool peril
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: She repeatedly sucks in and vomits out the sea, creating a dangerous whirlpool
in the strait.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: victims of monster attack
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: They are snatched from the ship and eaten by Scylla.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:6
label: exhausted oath-taking crew
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The men are worn out, approve landing, swear not to kill the herds, and later
face hunger.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:10
- id: role:7
label: dissenting spokesman
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: He openly challenges Odysseus and persuades the men to land for the night.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:8
label: prophetic warner
assigned_to:
- fig:7
- fig:8
basis: Both Teiresias and Circe had warned Odysseus to shun the sun-god's island.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:9
label: provider of permitted food
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Odysseus tells the crew to be satisfied with food that Circe has given them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:10
label: divine owner of taboo herds
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The cattle and sheep belong to the sun-god, who sees and hears everything.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:9
- id: role:11
label: storm-raising god
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Jove raises a gale and hurricane at night.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:12
label: cave-associated divine beings
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: The cave is described as the place where sea-nymphs hold courts and dances.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:13
label: divine recipients of prayer
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: Odysseus prays to all the gods in Olympus, and they send him into sleep.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: strait between two dangers
literal_form: A passage with Scylla on one side and Charybdis on the other.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: whirling salt water
literal_form: Salt water sucked down and vomited up by Charybdis, with black sand
and mud visible below.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: rock den
literal_form: Scylla's rock and the mouth of her den where she eats the captured
men.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- cave
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: sun-god's cattle and sheep
literal_form: Cattle and sheep belonging to Hyperion on the island of the sun-god.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:9
- id: sym:5
label: solemn oath not to kill the herds
literal_form: An oath by each crewman not to kill any cattle or sheep.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:6
label: fresh-water harbour
literal_form: A harbour near a stream of fresh water where the ship is made fast.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:7
label: sea-nymphs' cave
literal_form: A cave into which the ship is drawn, where sea-nymphs hold courts
and dances.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs:
- cave
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Preparation for Scylla
summary: Odysseus conceals Scylla's threat from the crew, arms himself against Circe's
instructions, and watches from the bows for the rock monster.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Passage between Scylla and Charybdis
summary: The ship enters the strait, the crew fears Charybdis's violent whirlpool,
and Scylla suddenly seizes six men and eats them at her den.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Arrival at the sun-god's island
summary: After passing the rocks, the ship reaches the island of Hyperion's cattle
and sheep, and Odysseus recalls warnings to avoid it.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Crew's objection and oath
summary: Eurylochus argues for landing because the men are exhausted; Odysseus yields
but requires a solemn oath not to kill the sun-god's cattle or sheep.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Storm and shelter
summary: Jove raises a hurricane at night; at dawn the crew draws the ship into
a cave of sea-nymphs and Odysseus repeats the warning about the herds.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: scene:6
label: Prolonged hunger and prayer
summary: Contrary winds trap the crew for a month; after provisions run out, they
forage in hunger while Odysseus goes inland alone, prays, and falls asleep.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:12
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: perilous passage between two deadly threats
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The ship must pass through a strait with Scylla on one side and Charybdis
on the other, and the passage costs six men their lives.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy family directly names this strait-passage pattern.
- id: motif:2
label: sacred herd taboo reinforced by oath
taxonomy_refs:
- covenant
basis: The crew swears not to kill the cattle or sheep belonging to the sun-god
after prophetic warnings identify the island as dangerous.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy reference 'covenant' is used broadly for the sworn agreement;
the passage does not use the term covenant.
- id: motif:3
label: divine warning against forbidden action under survival pressure
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Odysseus repeats warnings from Teiresias and Circe not to touch the sun-god's
herds, while hunger later drives the men to forage after provisions run out.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The excerpt ends before any actual killing of the herds, so the forbidden
action is anticipated rather than completed in this passage.
- id: motif:4
label: storm-enforced delay near sacred property
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Jove raises a hurricane, the ship is sheltered in a cave, and contrary winds
trap the crew for a month near the sun-god's cattle and sheep.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage states Odysseus sees that heaven meant mischief and identifies
Jove as storm-raiser, but it does not explicitly call the storm a punishment for
a prior offense.
- id: motif:5
label: leader isolated in prayer while companions remain vulnerable
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Odysseus goes inland alone to pray for a means of escape, away from his starving
men, and the gods send him into sleep.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage itself does not yet state what happens among the men during
his sleep.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 5513-5523
quote_or_summary: Odysseus conceals Scylla from the men, disobeys Circe by putting
on armour, takes two spears, and watches from the ship's bows for the rock monster.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 5524-5535
quote_or_summary: The ship enters the strait with Scylla on one side and Charybdis
on the other; Charybdis sucks up and vomits salt water, making a whirlpool with
deafening noise.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 5535-5551
quote_or_summary: Scylla suddenly snatches six of Odysseus's best men, carries them
to her rock, and eats them at the mouth of her den while they cry out and reach
toward Odysseus.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 5552-5562
quote_or_summary: After passing the rocks, the ship reaches the island of the sun-god,
where Hyperion's cattle and sheep are heard; Odysseus recalls warnings from Teiresias
and Circe to shun the island.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 5563-5577
quote_or_summary: Eurylochus argues that Odysseus is cruel to exhausted men and
that they should land, cook supper, sleep, and depart in the morning rather than
sail at night.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 5578-5585
quote_or_summary: Odysseus says the many force him to yield but requires each man
to swear not to kill any cattle or sheep and to be satisfied with Circe's food.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 5586-5592
quote_or_summary: The men swear the oath, moor near fresh water, go ashore, eat,
mourn the comrades eaten by Scylla, weep, and fall asleep.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 5593-5599
quote_or_summary: In the third watch, Jove raises a gale and hurricane with thick
clouds; at dawn the ship is drawn into a cave where sea-nymphs hold courts and
dances.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 5600-5604
quote_or_summary: Odysseus tells the men they have food in the ship and must not
touch the cattle, because the cattle and sheep belong to the mighty sun who sees
and hears everything; the men promise obedience.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 5605-5608 and continuation in supplied passage
quote_or_summary: For a month South and East winds prevent departure; after provisions
run out, the starving men catch birds and whatever they can find.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: continuation in supplied passage after line 5608
quote_or_summary: Odysseus goes inland alone to pray for a way to leave, washes
his hands, prays to the Olympian gods, and is sent into a sweet sleep.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Extraction uses only the supplied passage. Motif labels are passage-level
candidates; some taxonomy alignment is broad and should be reviewed.
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 comparison claims were added because the supplied passage does not itself support comparison to another named tradition or corpus beyond its own narrative context.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-odyssey-butler-gutenberg__l5513-l5608
passage_sha256=25c128347bf553605ae05743e89be274e29c8b42843ce255e33bb9670f7f68c2