batch.motif.greek-plato-republic-jowett-gutenberg-l21563-l21745
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-plato-republic-jowett-gutenberg-l21563-l21745
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
passage_locator:
label: BOOK V. / BOOK VI. / BOOK VII. / BOOK VIII.; lines 21563-21745
start: '21563'
end: '21745'
translation: The Republic
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: The passage describes how civic conflict produces a popular champion who
becomes a tyrant. Plato compares this transformation to an Arcadian tale in which
one who tastes human entrails mixed with sacrificial victims becomes a wolf. The
protector sheds citizens' blood, eliminates rivals, asks for a bodyguard, rules
the state, stirs up wars, purges good citizens, and relies on paid followers and
freed slaves.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The people are described as deceived by informers and as setting up a champion
whom they nurse into greatness.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: obs:2
text: The champion first appears as a protector and is identified as the root from
which a tyrant springs.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:3
text: An Arcadian tale is cited in which tasting a human victim's entrails mixed
with other victims' entrails leads to becoming a wolf.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:4
text: The protector is said to bring citizens into court by false accusation, murder
them, kill some, banish others, and hint at debt abolition and land partition.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:5
text: The protector may be driven out and return as a full-grown tyrant.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:6
text: The tyrannical figure requests a bodyguard under the claim that the people's
friend should not be lost.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:7
text: The tyrant is pictured standing in the chariot of State with the reins in
his hand.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:8
text: In the early days of power, the tyrant smiles, salutes people, promises publicly
and privately, liberates debtors, and distributes land.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:9
text: The tyrant stirs up wars so that the people need a leader, become poor through
taxes, and suspected resisters can be destroyed.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:10
text: The tyrant removes capable friends and enemies, especially the valiant, high-minded,
wise, and wealthy, in a reverse purgation of the state.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:11
text: The tyrant requires satellites and devoted followers, including paid drones
from many lands.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: obs:12
text: The tyrant robs citizens of slaves, frees them, and enrolls them in his bodyguard.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: the people
description: The populace who set a champion over themselves and assent to his request
for protection.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: popular champion / protector / tyrant
description: A figure first elevated as the people's protector and later described
as a tyrant absolute.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:8
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: human-victim eater in the Arcadian tale
description: The person in the tale who tastes human entrails mixed with other sacrificial
entrails and is destined to become a wolf.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: kinsmen and fellow citizens
description: People whose blood the protector sheds, some murdered, some killed,
and others banished.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: wealthy accused enemy of the people
description: A wealthy person accused of being an enemy of the people, who flees
or dies if caught.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:8
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: former supporters and capable citizens
description: Those who helped set the tyrant up or who are valiant, high-minded,
wise, wealthy, or otherwise useful, and whom the tyrant must remove.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: satellites, paid drones, and bodyguard
description: Devoted followers who flock to the tyrant if paid and serve as his
protective force.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: freed slaves enrolled in the bodyguard
description: Slaves taken from citizens, set free, and enrolled by the tyrant in
his bodyguard.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
roles:
- id: role:1
label: maker of the protector
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The people set a champion over themselves, nurse him into greatness, and
assent to his bodyguard request.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- id: role:2
label: protector turned tyrant
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The figure first appears as protector and later becomes tyrant absolute.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:8
- id: role:3
label: violent ruler
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: He murders, banishes, stirs up wars, destroys suspected opponents, and purges
the state.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: role:4
label: human-to-wolf transgressor
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The Arcadian tale says the eater of human entrails is destined to become
a wolf.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: victims of civic bloodshed
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The protector sheds their blood, brings them to court, murders some, kills
some, and banishes others.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:6
label: targets of elimination
assigned_to:
- fig:5
- fig:6
basis: The wealthy accused enemy flees or dies; capable citizens and former supporters
are removed by the tyrant.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:11
- id: role:7
label: tyrant's armed dependents
assigned_to:
- fig:7
- fig:8
basis: The tyrant obtains satellites, paid drones, and freed slaves as a trusted
bodyguard.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:13
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: wolf
literal_form: wolf
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:2
label: human entrails and blood
literal_form: human victim's entrails; blood of fellow citizens
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: chariot of State and reins
literal_form: chariot of State with reins in the tyrant's hand
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:4
label: bodyguard
literal_form: bodyguard requested by the people's friend and later filled with paid
followers and freed slaves
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: sym:5
label: drones
literal_form: drones tormenting and later flocking as paid followers
associated_figures:
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:12
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Civic conflict produces a champion
summary: The people, deceived by informers amid trials and judgments, set up a champion
and nurse him into greatness.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:2
label: Arcadian wolf tale invoked
summary: 'A tale from the temple of Lycaean Zeus is cited: tasting human entrails
among other victims'' entrails makes a person destined to become a wolf.'
figure_refs:
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Protector sheds civic blood
summary: The protector is compared to the wolf-bound figure as he uses false accusations,
murders fellow citizens, kills, banishes, and makes popular promises.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Exile, return, and bodyguard
summary: The protector may be expelled and return as a full-grown tyrant; enemies
may try to assassinate him, and he requests a bodyguard.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Tyrant takes the reins of the state
summary: The former protector is pictured as the tyrant absolute standing in the
chariot of State with the reins in his hand.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:6
label: Smiling promises and engineered war
summary: Early in power the tyrant smiles, promises, liberates debtors, and distributes
land; later he stirs up wars to maintain leadership, taxes, and pretexts against
opponents.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: scene:7
label: Reverse purgation and dependent guards
summary: The tyrant removes able people, becomes hated, and relies on satellites,
paid drones, and freed slaves enrolled as his bodyguard.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: human consumption leading to wolf transformation
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
- sacrifice
basis: The cited Arcadian tale states that tasting human entrails mixed with sacrificial
entrails makes the eater destined to become a wolf.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage reports the tale only briefly and uses it as an analogy for
tyranny.
- id: motif:2
label: protector transformed into tyrant
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The political champion first appears as a protector and then becomes a tyrant
through civic bloodshed, exile and return, bodyguard acquisition, and absolute
rule.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: This is a political pattern in the passage rather than a named mythic
motif.
- id: motif:3
label: ruler sustains power through manufactured war
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The tyrant continually stirs up wars so the people need a leader, become
impoverished, and suspected opponents can be destroyed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: No explicit taxonomy reference is provided by the available list.
- id: motif:4
label: reverse purgation of the state
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The tyrant removes the valiant, high-minded, wise, and wealthy, doing the
opposite of a physician's purgation by taking away the better part.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
confidence: medium
cautions: The motif label is derived from the passage's own analogy and should be
reviewed.
- id: motif:5
label: bodyguard as instrument of tyranny
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
basis: The tyrant requests a bodyguard as the people's friend and then relies on
paid followers and freed slaves as trusted guards.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:12
- ev:13
confidence: medium
cautions: The royal_legitimacy taxonomy reference is approximate because the passage
concerns tyrannical consolidation, not legitimate kingship.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage explicitly compares the political protector's change into a tyrant
with the Arcadian tale of a person who becomes a wolf after tasting human entrails.
claim_level: same_function
target: Arcadian temple of Lycaean Zeus wolf-transformation tale
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: The comparison is an internal analogy made by the dialogue; it does
not by itself establish historical origin or broader diffusion.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 21563-21568
quote_or_summary: The people, through ignorance and deception by informers, seek
to wrong others; the sting of drones torments them and breeds revolution.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: quote
locator: 21572-21574
quote_or_summary: "“The people have always some champion whom they set over them
and nurse into greatness.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:3
type: quote
locator: 21578-21580
quote_or_summary: "“This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when
he first appears above ground he is a protector.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 21584-21589
quote_or_summary: A tale of the Arcadian temple of Lycaean Zeus says that one who
tastes a human victim's entrails mixed with other victims' entrails is destined
to become a wolf.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 21593-21606
quote_or_summary: 'The protector is likened to the wolf-destined figure: with a
mob at his disposal he sheds kinsmen''s blood, uses false accusation, murders
citizens, tastes civic blood, kills and banishes, and hints at debt abolition
and land partition.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 21612-21618
quote_or_summary: The protector begins a party against the rich, may be driven out,
and returns despite enemies as a full-grown tyrant.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: quote
locator: 21624-21627
quote_or_summary: "“Then comes the famous request for a body-guard ... ‘Let not
the people’s friend,’ as they say, ‘be lost to them.’”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 21631-21649
quote_or_summary: The wealthy accused enemy flees or dies if caught; the former
protector appears as the overthrower of many, standing in the chariot of State
with reins in hand, no longer protector but tyrant absolute.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 21655-21662
quote_or_summary: At first the tyrant smiles, salutes everyone, makes public and
private promises, liberates debtors, distributes land, and wants to appear kind
and good.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: 21666-21682
quote_or_summary: After foreign enemies are settled, the tyrant stirs up wars so
the people need a leader, are impoverished by taxes, and suspected advocates of
freedom can be destroyed through the enemy.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: 21684-21714
quote_or_summary: As he grows unpopular, former supporters criticize him; to rule,
he must remove friends or enemies who are useful, targeting the valiant, high-minded,
wise, and wealthy in a reverse purgation of the state.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: 21724-21735
quote_or_summary: The more detestable his actions, the more satellites he needs;
paid followers or drones from many lands flock to him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:13
type: summary
locator: 21739-21745
quote_or_summary: The tyrant robs citizens of slaves, frees them, enrolls them in
his bodyguard, and trusts them as friends of his own sort.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: The political sequence and internal Lycaean-wolf analogy are explicit. Some
motif labels beyond the wolf tale are descriptive 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 references were limited to supplied motif families; no supplied symbol taxonomy matched wolf, entrails, bodyguard, chariot, or drones.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-plato-republic-jowett-gutenberg__l21563-l21745
passage_sha256=3d12527b7ff7632848da5f91fe0d0c5b5da4fa804486968d15a88b4454c50f60