20170218—a mark of honor

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0135%3Abook%3D4%3Acard%3D49            

ὣς φάτο, καί σφιν νῶτα βοὸς παρὰ πίονα θῆκεν

ὄπτ᾽ ἐν χερσὶν ἑλών, τά ῥά οἱ γέρα πάρθεσαν αὐτῷ.

οἱ δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ὀνείαθ᾽ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον. (Od. 4.65-67)

So saying he took in his hands roast meat and set it before them, the same fat ox chine which they had set before himself as a mark of honor.

νῶτον: the chine of an animal served as food

πίων: fat

γέρας: gift of honour

Menelaus款待客人，邀請Telemachus他們一起坐下來吃大餐，自己吃烤牛肉，也夾給客人吃；一塊肥牛肉，上等的牛排，在宴會上是尊榮的象徵 (γέρας: gift of honour)，也表示主人對客人的重視。

圖片出處: http://www.greeklegendsandmyths.com/menelaus.html

Helen Recognising Telemachus, Son of Odysseus - Jean-Jacques Lagrenée (1739–1821)