system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[Underworld] Why do the Elders need to "sleep" if they're immortal anyway?

Also, what makes the Elders so special anyway? If they're just the "oldest", why do they have such special abilities. There seemed to be plenty of vampires that could be as old, and being bitten by Marcus (first vampire) doesn't seem to explain it.
gpt
The Elders sleep so there is always a clear power structure.  When the clans joined into a single coven they made this deal to establish clear leadership without favouring one group over the others and avoid infighting.  As far as strength we know Viktor was way stronger then most Vampires able to effortlessly out muscle lycans and the first hybrid until Selene betrayed him.  Marcus we never see until he is also a hybrid so its harder to tell.  Amelia was probably the weakest of the three taken out by a group of regular lycan.