For a long time (and in the law books of states in the U.S.) rape was
defined as a crime against the father or husband or older brother of the
woman raped: it lowered her marriage prospects (i.e. her property
value).

Is anyone familiar with any recent scholarship (from classics, history,
or anthropology) dealing with the interesting fact that Helen got away
with it (adultery), as reflected in both of the Homeric epics.

Carrol

Terry O'Grady wrote:
>
> Dirk---thank you for breaking that down for me---am I right tho that
> virginity only addresses the first born and thus fidelity should be more
> prized.in protecting property lines (who fathered all the other kids  ?)
> That's where the notion of property rights comes into play ---the wife must
> be faithful as she is the property of the husband but the husband is free to
> philander. Which means that it is not really fidelity that is at issue as
> that is a gender neutral virtue but rather domination. Witness in Texas where
>  if you run over a cheatin' husband you get 20 years but if you shoot a
> cheatin' wife (or the bastard doin' it to you) everybody at the country club
> buys you a drink and you walk. Terry O'Grady