Problem: the leader may feel that his/her status is threatened by the honor-giving prize (geras) of another peer and potential rival
The leader may feel that his/her status is threatened by the honor-giving prize (geras) of another peer and potential rival.
WHY this may be a problem
If the leader's status is diminished socially, his/her legitimacy as a leader may also be challenged.
QUESTIONS to consider
What are the visible signs of leadership status today? How can you tell just by looking at someone that he/she is the leader?
In other words how do you know, just by looking, that someone is the leader in a given situation?
What are some ways in which a leader's status or legitimacy may be threatened today?
What difference do you think it makes in the Iliad that the honor-giving prize (geras) is a woman rather than a non-human object like a tripod, livestock, or special weapon?