Motif
weapon failure as divine sign
weapon_failure_as_divine_sign
A motif of the Divine Intervention and Guidance family, within the sub-family Divine Aid in Battle. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.
1 occurrences
1 traditions
greek
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The Iliad JUNO DECEIVES JUPITER BY THE GIRDLE OF VENUS. / BOOK XV. / ARGUMENT. / THE FIFTH BATTLE AT THE SHIPS; AND THE ACTS OF AJAX.; lines 14800-14931 confidence: high
Teucer draws at Hector’s breast, but Jove, disposer of the fates, prevents Hector’s present death; an unseen arm breaks the bowstring and the brazen-headed shaft falls harmlessly.
Teucer’s bowstring breaks under an unseen divine action, Teucer says a god has prevented them, Ajax says heaven commands a change of arms, and Hector treats the event as a sign of Jove’s support.
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