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Importance Of Hospitality In The Odyssey

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The Rules of Hospitality Throughout the Odyssey
Hospitality was an expected part of the ancient Greece culture due to the strictly followed guidelines of Xenia, but this generosity was not always appreciated, welcomed, or respected. Although it would be nice to say that these upstanding citizens welcomed strangers into their homes out of the goodness of their hearts, it is more likely their actions were out of fear of the gods or stranger 's wrath and social death. Hospitality should be something coming from the heart instead of an obligation forced upon us, but the feeling of obligation has morphed our reasonings due to fears of shame.
In ancient Greece culture, hospitality was expected as part of a survival need, because “without such hospitality, …show more content…

Because of the rules and customs of Xenia everyone was expected to be upstanding hosts and appreciative visitors with “some payment for this hospitality in the form of a gift exchange” (minerva.union). Due to this we see Odysseus offer the finest wine to the foreboding Cyclops, in book 9 of the Odyssey, in order to appease his wrath and ensure their safe stay in his cave of death they intruded. In return the Cyclops responded: “tell me your name this very minute! [and] I will give you a stranger 's gift which will make you very happy.” The gifts were exchanged, but the “stranger 's gift” turned out to be the pleasure of being the last eaten among his crew- which wasn 't a gift but more of a punishment for our hero Odysseus. The Cyclops, unlike most people, was not afraid to break the laws of Xenia or the stranger’s nor the gods’ wrath that was known to follow being a cruel host, because he was the son of Poseidon. This allowed him to bully the visitors as he pleased, with no fear of consequence. But in reality, neither host, nor guest was safe from harm in the end because Odysseus blinded the beast and in return got the wrath of Poseidon, making his journey home a long struggle. Although the Cyclops didn’t feel the pressure of following Xenia he also didn’t have a trace of warmth in his

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This display of overconfidence and hubris is not the type of behavior that a guest is supposed to exhibit, especially after receiving the kindness that the Phaeacians afforded to Odysseus. They welcomed Odysseus into their home and feast, and fed and entertained him, while not knowing his identity. After this behavior the king still gave elegant and expensive gifts to Odysseus upon his departure, “Come my dear, bring in an elegant chest, the best you have and lay inside a fresh cloak and shirt…and I will give him this gorgeous golden cup of mine”. (205) This display of ludicrous generosity and hospitality is a trend that persists throughout the epic.

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In the Odysseus (book 9), written by Homer, (book 9) has several symbolisms throughout the episode. One major symbolism used throughout this episode was hospitality. Homer use Cyclops and Odysseus to represent the different view of hospitality. Odysseus action symbolize the poor use of hospitality. Odysseus and his men sailed to the land of the Cyclopes.

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This passage that is spoken by Eumaeus represents two themes. The first is the theme of hospitality. Throughout The Odyssey, a common theme of hospitality has been shown. Eumaeus has welcomed the traveler into his home and has given him shelter and food despite the fact that he has little to offer. Compared to some of the other people that have hosted Odysseus,

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However, the monsters are not as interested in the indulgence of juicy steak, wine, or even the enticing and mystical lotus flowers, but rather in human flesh and blood. The Cyclops, Polyphemus, that Odysseus encounters on his journey gruesomely devours many sailors, tempted by the thought of being able to consume human “innards, flesh, and marrow bones.” The Cyclops continues his feast, “filling his belly with manflesh and great gulps of whey” (IX 312-322), as he greedily causes the demise of many sailors. This passage further reminds readers of the negative consequences of succumbing to the temptation of overindulging. It also acts as a clear warning to readers that feasting in excess is animalistic and inhuman.

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Xenia is the greek term for “hospitality towards visitors”. This Greek term is shown when Telemachus and Peisistratus both began on their journey on a yoke. “And they drove to Menelaus’ palace,/Which they found filled with guests” (Lombardo 44). Menelaus has many guests in his palace because of Xenia which is valued in their society. They believe in Xenia because when people are away from home, they are uncomfortable so showing hospitality towards visitors makes them miss home less.

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But what you say now is a child’s foolish prattle. How often have we eaten the food of a stranger, you and I, in other parts of the world, on our long journey home, praying that Zeus might somewhere give us rest and peace at last. Go and take out their horses, and bring the men in to share our feast” (41). This quote shows that Menelaos adheres to the critical nature of hospitality, and acts this way because that is how he has been treated in the past. Also, a part of adhering to hospitality is giving the guest a stranger’s gift that the visitor expects.

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Another quote is “He reached out and grabbed 2 of my friends… then he smashed them on the floor dead” (Homer 39). This shows that the cyclops does not care about hospitality and xenia because Odysseus was being nice to him by not running away after eating his food. Another example of bad Xenia is when the suitors showed very bad xenia to Penelope and Telemachus and

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Odysseus suffered the consequence of being away from his son, Telemachus, and his wife, Penelope for 20 years. Odysseus was told by Athena and other gods, what to do during his journey. All of them told Odysseus that he couldn’t tell his men because they’d suffer a consequence. Odysseus listened to Athena and the gods because he only thought about himself and didn 't think about what his crew would say or do. When Odysseus and his crew passed by the mainland where the Cyclops lived, they were only going to stay for two days, but then out of curiosity, Odysseus wanted to see what kind of beast the Cyclops was which made them almost die.

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Throughout the story, Odysseus demonstrates his courage that ultimately allows him to survive. One of these moments was during his journey back to Ithaca, where he faces a race of man eating giants called the Cyclops. Odysseus originally stops his ship there to relish a feast while on his journey back to Ithaca, but while doing so, out of curiosity explores the island. Soon, he finds a deserted house and decides to wait of the owner. The owner was unknowingly one the Cyclops, named Polyphemus.

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Odysseus and his shipmates linger in the Cyclops’ cave in hopes of a guest-gift—a custom under the rules of xenia—despite themselves being unobservant of the practice. Xenia dictates that the guest is obliged to treat the host well and not impose on their home for a prolonged period; however, Odysseus almost immediately violates this principle by mooring their ship without permission

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We can depict this through a quote found in chapter 9, “A wind from seaward served him, drove us there. We are survivors, these good men and I.” Being the heartless creature the cyclops is, he still goes on to eat Odysseus’ men, shocking them as they believed they should have gotten better treatment and a gracious greeting from the Cyclops as if they were noble heroes. However, soon Odysseus learns that

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Xenia, The Law of Hospitality The theme of Xenia was one of the most spotted out in The Odyssey, which is the Law of Hospitality. The Law of Hospitality is being polite to strangers who need assistance but it is more than it’s a host and guest relationship. Xenia is seen throughout The Odyssey. Xenia provides an effort of making the community a safer and better community.

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