Why Is Xenia Important In Ancient Greek Culture

Ancient Greek Cultural Concepts in The Odyssey
Although different cultures vary from each other in their cultural concepts, one sees that the concepts exemplified in The Odyssey are such that many today may find bizarre. However, these ideals were firmly followed in ancient Greece. Homer successfully illustrates the important cultural concepts of xenia, mêtis and piety in his book through the characters’ dialogue, actions, and behaviors.
One of the most significant Greek cultural ideals seen in The Odyssey would be xenia, the concept of hospitality. Despite its continuation in modern society, much of it has changed since 750 BCE. Ironically, both the abundance and the lack of xenia play an important role in The Odyssey. When expressed, xenia

By displaying xenia to the goddess Athena, Telémakhos was able to obtain her trust and “…kindness, like a father to his son…” (Telémakhos 1.355, 356). Telémakhos is seen displaying xenia and fulfilling his role as a host towards his guest, “…come take a hot bath, and rest; accept a gift to make your heart lift up when you embark- some precious thing, and beautiful, from me, a keepsake…”(Telémakhos 1.358,361). In this specific case, Telémakhos is also shown to demonstrate theoxenia. Theoxenia is a cultural concept in Greek mythology in which humans display xenia to gods, who are disguised as strangers. This representation of xenia and theoxenia helps Telémakhos advance towards his goal of finding his father, Odysseus. Telémakhos uses his dialogue and behavior to demonstrate xenia. On the contrary to the abundance of xenia, the lack of xenia displays the deterioration in the welfare of a character. Penelope’s suitors are examples for displaying lack of xenia; a specific example would be of Eurýmakhos. Eurýmakhos represents his lack of xenia when he throws a footstool at Odysseus when he is disguised as a beggar; “He had his foot

Piety is defined as serious respect for the gods. This cultural concept plays a very important role in The Odyssey as it becomes a pivotal factor for the gods when they decide who they should help and who they should not. Odysseus is shown to demonstrate piety towards the gods; “‘Rejoice inwardly. No crowing aloud, old woman. To glory over slain men is no piety. Destiny and the gods’ will vanquished these, and their own hardness’” (22.460, 464). Odysseus is in turn helped by Athena. In another instance, Athena helped him during the final battle, by “[Athena] spoiled their shots. One hit the doorpost of the hall, another struck in the door’s thick timbering, still others rang on the stone wall, shivering hafts of ash”(22.282, 285). This shows how with the display of piety one is able to gain the help of the gods. Piety is best demonstrated through the actions and dialogue of a character. Along with illustrating the advantages of displaying piety, The Odyssey also shows the opposite. Antínoös is one to show a lack of piety towards the gods. When Antínoös hits the beggar with a footstool, the others are mortified, “‘A poor show, that —hitting this famished tramp— bad business, if he happened to be a god. You know they go in foreign guise, the gods do, looking like strangers, turning up in towns and settlements to keep an eye on manners, good or bad’” (17.633, 638). “But at this notion Antínoös only