Hospitality In The Odyssey

One of the most important themes in The Odyssey is the concept of xenia, which is the old Greek word for hospitality. In modern times, hospitality is something we rarely think of, and the first thing that comes to mind is the hotel industry, but in ancient Greece, xenia was not about hotels, or just about etiquette, it was a way of life with many benefits in a world that was still mostly savage. Xenia was more than just being polite to strangers. It was a set of rules and customs that defined the guest-host relationship between two individuals, two groups of people, or an individual and a group. Some basic rules of this relationship were that the guest could not insult the

The concept of guest hospitality is extremely important in ancient Greece. Hospitality, or Xenia, is so essential in Greek society that Zeus, in addition to being the king of the Gods, is also the God of travelers (Wikipedia). This created an obligation for the host to be hospitable to their guests, and conversely, the guests had their own responsibilities as well. If either the host or the guest was to break any rule set by Xenia, there would be severe penalties dealt by Zeus and also by society (Wikipedia). In The Odyssey, Xenia is a theme which is shown repeatedly throughout the book: Nestor and Menelaos take in Telemakhos warmly as a guest and Eumaios plays an excellent host to Odysseus, while Odysseus is disguised as a wandering

One of the many points that can support the idea of The Odyssey as an epic poem is that it is a story that showcases the morals and values that the ancient Greeks held dear. One of the morals that is implied by Homer in the story is the importance that the ancient Hellenic societies placed on hospitality and manners. This trait of hospitality is shown throughout the entirety of the story; and is shown in the section of the story when Telemachus, a prince, treats his father, who has been disguised as a beggar, with the utmost respect and manners. The story says that “Odysseus moved aside, yielding his couch, but from across the room Telemachus checked him: Friend sit down we’ll find another chair.” (16. 49-50) This action by Telemachus shows the importance of hospitality to the

Throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus’ experiences are shaped by guest-host relationships, and this particular, god-enforced institution: Xenia. We first begin to understand Xenia in Telemachy, when King Nestor welcomes Odysseus’ son into his home,and feasts him with food and drink, all before asking who he is, “Now’s the time, now they’ve enjoyed their meal/to probe our guests and find out who they are. Strangers—friends, who are you?”(34) This is not the last time that hospitality will be so deliberately prioritized. Even taking reference from the myth of Baucis and Philemon, we see the very same display of welcoming shown, because of the common understanding amongst Ancient Grecians that all strangers are potential Gods. As Telemachus moves on, he greets King Menelaus who welcomes him in the very same way, “Help yourselves to food, and welcome! Once you’ve dined we’ll ask you who you are” (51). The over-emphasis of this ideology is critical in a tale of journeying. It is in the beginning of Telemachus’ journeys that we are immediately introduces to the heavy importance of Xenia in The Odyssey. Both Odysseus and Telemachus would have remained immobile in their pursuits had it not been for

Hospitality is a key role shown throughout The Odyssey. It is an essential part to the poem. During the poem, Homer shows how people treated one another. Each island that Odysseus visit there is a different component of hospitality. What a great host would do is welcome their guest, feed them proper food, treat respectfully, let guest leave, don’t question identity, and finally give them a gift. In this essay I will be talking about how hospitality is important in “The Odyssey” and how it hospitality differs between places.

Throughout Homer's The Odyssey, Odysseus the main character in the story is tested with the true meaning of hospitality. In the heroic age, hospitality was viewed as punishment or acceptance of a stranger. While Odysseus longed for his return to home, he faced the two different kinds of hospitality offered within the heroic age. My theory is that Odysseus was provided with good hospitality when he would enter a town that allowed him to eat at their table, bathed within their baths, and sleep within their homes. The townspeople and their king often provided superior hospitality for strangers without questioning them first. It's thought that maybe the wonderful hospitality was provided in return of viewing the stranger as a

The guest/host friendship was an important aspect of social custom in the Bronze Age. Discuss its purpose in society and role in The Odyssey. Use at least 3 examples from the text illustrating when either it was being followed or it wasn’t.

“Few men can keep alive through a big surf to crawl, clotted with brine, on kindly beaches in joy, knowing the abyss behind: and so she [Penelope] too rejoiced, her gaze upon her husband, her white arms around him pressed, as though forever…,” (LL 1414-1418 pg 709). In the epic poem The Odyssey, Homer “creates” many relationships in the Odyssey. But, why, what's so important? Well, Homer shows the importance of relationships through hospitality, love, and loyalty.

The main failure to be a hospitable guest in The Odyssey is that the suitors who believe Odysseus is dead and are waiting to marry his wife, Penelope. The suitors simply cannot stop being terrible guests, spending O's money and “feasting themselves sick, swilling our glowing wine” (2.61). The suitors are terrible guests, and have no care whatsoever as to the fact that they are being extremely rude to the gods by being bad guests, and being rude to Odysseus, destroying his house and spending his money. Since the suitors are being such terrible guests, there has to be a consequence. Once Odysseus returns from his travels and becomes re-acquainted with his son Telemachus, they decide that it is time to put an end to the reign of the suitors. Odysseus is shooting arrows through the holes of axes when he “aimed and shot Antinuous square in the throat”

The elements such as piety, virtue, and the fear of Zeus falls under the theme of Xenia which is the central theme in the whole epic. Homer decided to make Xenia such a wide theme in the epic because he was perhaps a follower and it had great significance to him since he was a traveler himself. As a Bard, he had to travel to various places seeking information and also know how to interact with strangers in an appropriate way. That’s why he contrasted the people who practiced it to the ones who didn’t to show that hospitality and its significance. Further exploring the theme of Xenia, through hospitality, the characters were able to learn more about themselves and discovered the nature of others. Odysseus wanted to know what the Cyclopes were like, whether they were religious and actually godlike or not. It turns out Odysseus instantly got the answer to his question by seeing the aftermath of visiting the cave. Characters can also learn about themselves and their humanity by critically thinking about their action of treating strangers like how you’d like to be treated as a stranger. They’d know that they do care about the good treatment of others because they don’t care about themselves. An essential safety rule is indicated in the epic which is hiding one’s identity to a foreigner unless they seem unharmful. That’s the reason why

Hospitality as a theme in any literary work may not seem note-worthy. However, in Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey, it becomes fundamental to the telling of the story. In addition to hospitality in The Odyssey, the question of is it given out of fear of retribution from the gods or out of true generosity, is raised. What is also shown is the form of which it comes in, whether it be unwanted, given too much or taken advantage of. Homer illustrates the theme of hospitality through the actions of Menelaus, the Phaeacians, Nestor, Eumaious and the suitors.

Throughout the development of humanity, the random group of societies have been historically all-equipped to deal with challenges the state of disorganization is not conducive to advancement of society due to the chaotic nature of existence on planet earth. Humans have to impose will on a chaotic world. One way they can do this is through culturally perceived definitions of hospitality. In the Odyssey, written by Homer, Odysseus experiences various forms of hospitality. Odysseus’s journey is so long is that he is forced to the obligation of accepting the welcoming hospitality of people he meets along his path. This helps Odysseus and Telemachus learn about being away from home by some places being welcoming, and some places being not welcome. Hospitality is a way of life in a wide variety of cultures. The ways people in certain cultures act towards their guest may differ. Great hospitality has been apart of Greek culture for a good amount of time now, as it is seen many times in the epic. Characters open up their living area numerous times in the Odyssey. Main characters Odysseus and his son Telemachus were invited into many homes, where they were given anything they wanted on a silver platter until they had to depart on their journey again.

Hospitality in Greece Xenia was a Greek word for the connection between the guest and the host. Hospitality was further common in Ancient Greece than other civilizations. Zeus the King of Gods shaped this decree for it to become a social norm in earliest society. He belief that as a stranger you are given security and as the host, you authorize to make the foreigner feel at ease in your kingdom. Without it, strangers could be incarcerated or even executed for infiltrating an unfamiliar land. Because of this law, outsiders depend on it for protection, food, and shelter. In exchange the Gods above would grant the host gifts, prosperity, and as Odysseys, Penelope and Emaues repeats whatever your heart's desire. Gods and Goddess have the power

One of the most prominent codes demonstrated in the first half of The Odyssey is hospitality code that is showing kindness towards strangers. In ancient Greek culture, the strangers were regarded has they were God and to be treated as gods. The strangers were offered baths, food, drinks, lodging, clothing, and gifts before

The Odyssey is a celebrated epic filled with many different themes, motifs, styles, and characters that could be examined in vast detail, but the theme of hospitality is a reoccurring one throughout the entire narrative. Homer writes about examples of both great hospitality and very inhospitable characters in his epic poem. Hospitality in The Odyssey creates definition of how individuals are either punished or rewarded by the gods.