The Oxford English Dictionary defines honor as a “quality of character entitling a person to great respect; nobility of mind or spirit” (Honor). While the denotation of honor is set by dictionaries, the specific qualities that imbue this great respect are not — they are defined by the society in which one lives. Brigham Young University (BYU) values different qualities than the ancient Greeks but both use honor as an important aspect of structuring their society. The two groups define honor within their societies by idolizing the characteristics that will most benefit the community and by shaming the actions or characteristics that would harm it.
Physical prowess in battle was the epitome of honor for ancient Greek men and was central to defining their social construct. In the Iliad and Odyssey, we read epithets such as powerful Agamemnon (Iliad 79) and God-like Odysseus (Odyssey 343) — these are men who have been glorified for their abilities in battle. This glorification of might reveals that the Greeks actively strived to build a powerful army capable of conquering other countries, increasing their wealth and proving their superiority. The men who helped most to strengthen this vision became revered by their peers and immortalized in literature. Achilles is a perfect example of this immortalization as he single-handedly turns the tides of battle and wins eternal glory from the Gods and Greeks alike (Iliad 197-230). Literary works such as the Iliad and the Odyssey, however, are not the only evidence of honor impacting the structure of Greek life. Artwork, such as the Spearman statue by Polykleitos, further exhibit how honor gained through physical prowess was not an idea exclusive to the battlefield, but a central theme in all of Greek culture.
While physical prowess was a central ideal for Greek culture, it was mainly directed toward the men. Women, on the other hand, had different criteria for what was considered honorable. In the book, The Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World, a woman’s honor is said to be closely tied to their sexuality, especially as pertains to her capacity to bring forth legitimate children for her husband (Roberts). While the ancient Greeks separated the honor criteria for men and women, the BYU code of conduct is mostly gender neutral. The honor code says, “Students must be in good Honor Code standing to be admitted to, continue enrollment at, and graduate from BYU” (Church). The word “students” is not gender specific and sets forth the requirements that both men and women need to fulfill to successfully integrate themselves into the BYU community. Similar to the purpose of Greek honor, BYU established an honor code to provide a framework for students to follow so as to promote the ideal BYU community, which is to gain “education in an atmosphere consistent with the ideals and principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” (Church).
Honor can be used positively, such as shaping the educational atmosphere at BYU; however, dishonor can also be used to shape a community. One example of dishonor shaping the community is the story behind the Ajax suicide vase by Exekias. It emotionally depicts Ajax removing himself from society by falling on his own sword after he lost his honor (Suicide). Likewise, in Oedipus Rex, there are two more examples of how the feeling of dishonor and shame drive the removal of undesirable characteristics from society. The first example is Jocasta when she commits suicide upon discovering maternal relationship to her husband/son, Oedipus. The second example deals with Oedipus, who does not commit suicide like Ajax or Jocasta, but exiles himself from society after symbolically gouging his own eyes out. 
The ancient Greeks are not the only ones who used dishonor as a tool to remove unwanted qualities from a society — BYU also utilizes this strategy. The honor code stipulates that “Students who are not in good Honor Code standing must discontinue enrollment. Also, they are not eligible for graduation, even if they have otherwise completed all necessary coursework” (Church). In essence, the BYU honor code states that students who do not abide by the honor code are acting dishonorably and will be removed from the university. This action is comparable to the exiling found in ancient Greek culture. One of the biggest differences between BYU and Greek exile, however, is the fact that many BYU students will be able to return to the university after a probationary period whereas the Greeks exiled a person for life. 
In conclusion, honor is an important device used by people to establish the society that they want in the future. Since this future society is not universally defined, the actions that bring honor will differ depending on the people who make up the community. While the characteristics that bring honor to the society are drastically different among cultures, the structural role of honor remains unchanged. The idea of honor being used in the same way across multiple cultures is evident by comparing the ancient Greeks with BYU. Ancient Greece separately defined the criteria as to what gave a man and a woman honor. For men, it was honorable to be physically strong and capable of great feats. Women, on the other hand, were honored for their virtue, sexuality and ability to deliver children to their husbands. BYU stands in contrast to these two ideas because it holds both genders to practically the same level, which is keeping the standards of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Even though ancient Greece and BYU have different criteria for what brings honor, both use honor in a similar fashion. Both will praise and respect the people with characteristics that contribute to their ideal version of society. Likewise, both will also remove individuals from their society if they deem their actions dishonorable. Honor is an integral part of any society and defines not only the present actions of individuals, but also the future development of the whole community.
Works Cited
Church Educational System Honor Code, https://policy.byu.edu/view/index.php?p=26.
Homer, et al. Iliad. Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 1997.
Homer, and Stanley Lombardo. Odyssey. Hackett Pub. Co., 2000.
“Honor.” Oxford English Dictionary, https://www-oed-com.erl.lib.byu.edu/view/Entry /8822?rskey=jTdaZc&result=1#eid
Roberts, John Willoby. The Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World. Oxford University Press, 2016.
“Suicide of Ajax Vase.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Dec. 2018,https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_of_Ajax_Vase#/media/File:Exekias_Suicide_ d_Ajax_01.jpg.
