How Xenia is Shown in The Odyssey What is xenia? Xenia is the Greek custom of hospitality and protection shown to strangers. Greek’s would practice xenia to build a bond between themselves (the host) and the guest to ensure that the person traveling would be treated with kindness and respect. The Greek’s believed that by showing hospitality to the strangers they were honoring the gods and would be rewarded.
The importance of xenia in Homeric society will be examined in Odyssey books 1 – 4 by the experiences of Telemachus’. Telemachus’ experience of good and bad xenia will be examined to
Xenia, in Ancient Greece, is defined as the idea of hospitality, a topic of much importance. In the epic poem, The Odyssey, Odysseus and his crew rely majorly on courtesy from those involved in the encounters. However, hospitality was not always delivered throughout his journey, a crime with the severity of being punished by the gods. Odysseus encountered two types of lacking hospitality, purposeful, such as on Polyphemus’ Island and the suitors upon Odysseus’ return, which often ended in violence, or trickery, like with the Lotus Eaters and Circe’s Island.
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In the epic The Odyssey, Homer supports the Greek tradition of hospitality when Aeolus helps Odysseus get to Ithaca and King Alcinous provides Odysseus the resources to return home to reveal the thematic understanding that society should act towards others in a way that reflects how they would want others to act towards them. Homer’s display of the Greek value hospitality is shown when Aeolus assists Odysseus on his journey to Ithaca. Odysseus is gifted a “westward wind” and a bag possessing all the “stormy winds” (Homer 1224). When Odysseus receives these tokens of gratitude, it makes his trip easier for him and his men. With the wind, Odysseus’ men are not required to row the boat.
Xenia is the generosity and courtesy shown in the guest-host relationship. The whole concept of xenia began with the couple Baucis and Philemon, the only two people in their town to welcome the two disguised gods Zeus and Hermes into their home. The two were rewarded for their generosity, and the others punished. So in fear of the gods showing at their door, Greeks would welcome anyone with open arms and give them gifts; Homeowners would also receive gifts in return from the travelers.(Manolis) One of the first encounters of hospitality was when Odysseus receives advice from Circe.
Because of the Phaeacians’ attitude towards foreigners, Athena, disguised as a little girl, warns Odysseus of the Phaeacians before leading him through the city. “‘The men here never suffer strangers gladly, have no love for hosting a man from foreign lands”(7.36-37). This description of the Phaeacians is eerily similar to xenophobes of today. Phaeacians and some modern Americans/Europeans feel similarly in that both are wary of accepting
When a stranger is seen, Xenia has to be put in effect also. Nausicaa, daughter of King Alcinous instantly offers clothing and beverage to Odysseus being a surprise to her. Nausicaa seeing Odysseus naked knew what he needed and offered it to him because being kind and warming to the guest was the point of Xenia. The social standard didn’t matter whether Xenia was put in action, it always had to be present. Penelope and the old servant treated the old beggar as any other guest, the beggar was help in the house of Penelope and Odysseus.
Odyssey exhibits a wide variety of xenia which exhibits hospitality towards others. Most hospitality that we use is xenia. Without xenia we would not show the utter most respect for
The concept of hospitality is clearly evident in society to this day. From the royal treatment of kings and queens to the warm welcomes shown by families, the Greek culture was no exception to this idea. As demonstrated in The Odyssey, a sense of respect was presented not only towards the Greek gods but also to the mortals themselves. Characters such as Odysseus rely on the hospitality of others for food, shelter, guidance and protection. Without it, many characters wouldn't have survived as they were often stranded in distant lands.
The Odyssey is an epic poem written by the blind, illiterate poet Homer. It takes place in ancient Greece and tells of a man’s journey home from war. The topic, intervention of the gods, is seen throughout the book numerous times as the gods who are in favor of Odysseus lend a helping hand. It is well-known that the gods are very important to the Greeks. In this epic poem, The Odyssey, Homer demonstrates the importance of the positive and encouraging intervention of the gods in Greek culture; the brave actions, encouraging words, and cunning strategies of Athena as she assists and guides Odysseus on his journey back home.
Hospitality is a common theme in The Odyssey and is essential to the story’s plot. During this time period, the Greeks showed hospitality to common people. Throughout the story, this virtue is valued by many, but some chose not to obey the laws of hospitality. Due to this, hospitality demonstrated a separation between people worthy of reward or punishment. For example, Penelope’s suitors lacked hospitality.
Hospitality and kindness played a major role in Greek society and this is clear throughout Homer’s writing. In his epic, The Odyssey, Homer creates two groups, those who are kind and hospitable, and those who are not. Those who are hospitable are respected and thought highly off, while those who violate the laws of kindness eventually end up punished. During his long and treacherous journey back home to Ithica, Odysseus experiences many forms of hospitality. Some of these shows of hospitality are need and generous, while others are not.
Xenia is an Ancient Greek religious custom which captures the essence of the guest-host relationship. It is a sacred, religious law that may lead to severe punishment by the Greek God, Zeus, if not abided by. However, xenia may do more harm than good in some cases, plenty of which presents itself in the Odyssey. Xenia is a process and has to do with hospitality and mutual respect between a guest and a host. This is an extremely civilised practice placed in such a chaotic and barbaric age.
Today it is quite frightening to stay in a stranger’s home, but in The Odyssey, it is common to do so. The Odyssey, a novel written by Homer in the twelfth century B.C.E. (Who Was Homer?), is about Odysseus’ journey home to Ithaca, his gentle wife Penelope, and his maturing son Telemachus after the Trojan War. In this novel, the theme of hospitality occurs frequently. Hospitality is the act of being welcoming to others by giving the guest food, drink, clothes, a place to rest, and a bath. Being hospitable in Homeric Greece is so significant, that it is a part of their culture.
