All throughout The Odyssey there are scenes of good and bad xenia, or hospitality. It can be seen that hospitality is extremely important in the Greek culture, both how someone treats their guests and how the guests treat the host. A closer look chronologically into the good, then bad examples will show how one acts affects the actions that are brought upon them when they either follow or disobey Zeus' Law. Right at the beginning of The Odyssey, the reader is shown the hospitality that Telemachus has. Athena arrives, disguised, and he invites her into his home by saying: "'Greetings, stranger! / Here in our house you'll find a royal welcome. / Have supper first, then tell us what you need'" (1.144-46). His address to Athena shows right away that he is an extremely hospitable character. Despite his house being overridden by the suitors, he is still welcoming of this stranger. When she is about to leave, he offers that she stay longer and wants to treat her with honor (1.352-60). Telemachus has no idea who Athena is, yet he still shows extreme generosity towards her. Telemachus is a perfect role model for xenia. Even though the suitors have been pushing him around for years, he still finds it in his heart to provide strangers a lovely experience when they visit him. It seems as though he has seen how terrible it is to be treated with bad xenia and he in turn wants to treat his guests the way that he hopes to be treated. Other acts of hospitality are seen throughout The Odyssey. Telemachus has left on a journey to find out about his father and he comes across Nestor. Nestor shows multiple signs of good hospitality. When Telemachus first meets him, he gives everyone a feast before even asking who they are (3.76-79). Once Telemachus... ... middle of paper ... ...arent that the women are treated differently, along with those who are children of the gods, specifically the Cyclops. As stated before, the women were able to get away with wrongdoings. The Cyclops was able to get away with eating Odysseus's men and even managed getting Odysseus in trouble with the gods. Odysseus didn't display the best hospitality at moments, such as when he skewered the Cyclops's eye and then taunted him about it, but even he ended up being punished when he had acts of bad hospitality. Despite being the most hospitable group, the Phaeacians ended up being punished more than most. After their punishment, they change their ways and hope to appeal to the gods again. As it is Zeus' Law, and thereby the highest standing custom, every character in The Odyssey has a strong tie to xenia and it's effects on their lives and the lives of those around them.
The epic poem of the Odyssey begins right after the Trojan War in the Iliad. In this new poem Homer attempts to bring a new perspective of the war. He endeavored to show how the Greeks faced injustices and danger on their way back to their hometowns. Homer makes it clear that the lives of the Greeks could not be the same after the war. One of the fundamental elements of Greek lives that Northern Europe had in common with the Mediterranean is hospitality. Hospitality is important in constructing a civilized society in the poem. It is an important custom to be polite to guests. And more than often the guests will be willing to repay them with a favor. However, there are often situations in which accommodating guests is not such a good idea. A perfect example is seen in the story of Circe and Cyclop...
Through his use and experience of the practice, the reader follows his story of maturity. It is evident that, no matter the circumstance (such as the annoyance of the suitors), he is more than willing to exercise Greek hospitality: "Welcome, stranger. You shall be entertained as a guest among us. Afterward, when you have tasted dinner, you shall tell us what your need is" (Book I, lines 122-124). After he greeted this stranger (who was truly Athene in disguise), his servants provided them with a place to wash their hands, food, and drinks. This act may have put Telemachos on great terms with Athene, who helped him on the journey to attempt the discovery of his father 's whereabouts. Without the hospitality, Athene may not have helped Telemachos on his journey. While on his journey, Telemachos experiences Greek hospitality in all of the households that he comes across. Even the hosts of those households were very open to him (and Athene), and made them feel welcomed into their
Telemachus shows that he has not lost complete hope in his father’s return and will no longer sit back and watch suitors waste his family’s wealth. Telemachus also shows valor because his visit could result in good or bad news with correlating responsibilities. Whether he receives good or bad news, Telemachus will thereafter be held to a certain responsibility. If he receives news that his father is still alive, it holds him to a greater standard to uphold his father’s name and home in Ithaca. If he receives bad news, then he will have to face the consequences of his father being dead, especially the suitors. Like a father’s pep talk before a big game, Athena provides an extra push before Telemachus journeys to Nestor, “Telemachus felt a sudden surge of courage, implanted in his hear by Athena herself…” This is concrete evidence of Athena’s hand in Telemachus’ maturation.
The suitors freeload on the food and supplies while they try wooing Penelope. Food and feast calls for celebration of life and guests in Greek society. The Greek code of xenia tested the hosts' hospitality, and was sometimes tested when gods came to visit. Hospitality was one of the most sacred bonds in Greek antiquity, forcing hosts to treat any guest with respect, and the guest had an obligation not to harm anyone as long as he or she was in the house. A great example would be of Helen and Menelaus and their food and silver utensils. Another example of food and xenia is when Telemachus meets King Nestor. "once they'd put aside desire for food and drink, / old Nestor the noble charioteer began, at last: / '... probe our guests and find out who they are. / Strangers— friends, who are you?'" (Homer 3.75-79). Nestor invites them to eat and settle down before actually asking who Telemachus is and what he wants. Even when Odysseus is seen alone and broken down, Nausicaa attempts to help him. "So, quick, my girls, / give our newfound friend some food and drink / and bathe the man in the river, / wherever you find shelter from the wind" (Homer 6. 229- 232). Everyone helps anyone who is in need of assistance in their society, including treating their guests with
The role that hospitality plays within greek custom is social standing. In other words how the hosts treats their guest is a reflection of the outcome and how the gods look upon them. To explain, if a hosts does wrong by a guest, then bad things will happen. Verses if hosts does great things for the guest, good things will happen. Demonstrating good hospitality is important to the gods because the people in Greece don’t know when the gods will be in disguise therefore the idea of hospitality is to treat everyone as if they are a
In our modern day, there are plenty of different ways that a person can show hospitality towards a guest whether it be a stranger or friend. Having only lived in the United States, I have found myself to be treated most graciously by my friends, but every so often, I do find myself to be lost in a friend 's house. Every person was taught certain morals as a child that they now use in their adult lives, but for some people, hospitality has been thought to be just letting them come into the house. In the Odyssey, so far, we as the readers have come to see how hospitality can be very well done. Whether it be Telemachus or Odysseus traveling and staying at places, they were served at the finest level even though they were complete strangers. The providers have a dedication to help the stranger because they could possibly hope that the gift of food or money will be passed on.
Far removed from our individualistic society today is the ancient Greece portrayed in The Odyssey, by Homer, where hospitality and good will are the way of things. As decreed by Zeus himself, those who wish the favor of the Gods must welcome foreign and domestic with hospitality. A man was supposed to offer the best of his food, his home, and his knowledge before ever asking for his guest’s name or why he was there. There is a sense that those of high status are the main givers of hospitality, but they are not the only ones commanded to offer hospitality. Homer emphasizes hospitality from everyone during Telemachus’ and Odysseus’ journeys, using a man’s xenos, host/guest relationships, with his guest to infer his integrity and character. If a man isn’t pure, then he doesn’t show hospitality and Homer makes sure that man is put in his proper place through the vengeance of those he has wronged.
A great show of hospitality is when a Greek was taken in to one's home to live with them as part of their family. The best example of this is when the old fisherman, Dictys, discovered a chest containing Danaë and Perseus and took them home to live with him and his wife. "They had no children and they cared for Danaë and Perseus as if they were their own" (148). Without this show of hospitality, Danaë and Perseus may not have survived. Also, without this show of cordiality Perseus would not have been able to become the hero he is and accomplish the great tasks he completed throughout his life. Another example of one's being taken in occurs in the story of Demeter. Demeter, disguised as a poor aged woman because of the misery of her daughter's kidnapping, was found by four lovely maidens, who after talking to their mother, Metaneira, took Demeter in with them. Here Demeter was given food and a house to live in. This hospitality helped Demeter to cope with the abduction of her daughter, Persephone because it not only allowed her to nurse the child, Demophoön, but also to interact with other people. These two myths show how much hospitality was a significant part of Greek culture.
Once a cornerstone in society, hospitality has been slowly whittled away over time, however there is evidence of hospitality having a major role in everyday life in stories such as Homer’s The Odyssey, and the Pearl Poet’s Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. In ancient Greek society, hospitality was known as xenia. In The Odyssey as well as in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, hospitality, in all cases, came with a test of each character’s wit, resilience, and strength of character.
Throughout Greek culture, xenia has been a prominent method for those who are in need. Homer could obviously see the importance of hospitality since he put such emphasis on it in his works. This re-occurring theme has; however, lost some of its relevance through time, but can still be shared through small acts of kindness. The Bible even says to “offer hospitality to one another without complaint” (1 Peter 4:9). Therefore, being generous towards others can help continue on the meaning of being hospitable.
Hospitality In The Odyssey by Homer, hospitality plays a very important role. There are certain rules of hospitality needed, such as inviting a stranger into your home, not asking them their name before they have dined at your table, and sometimes even gift offerings. If these rules of hospitality are not carried out, the consequences are very severe. Hospitality is to be given to all by all. Being a good host is very important in The Odyssey, even to the gods. It is a sign of respect for all no matter where they are from or how poor they appear to be. This means that as soon as you see a stranger, you invite them into your home to sit at your table just as king Nestor did. "As soon as they saw the strangers, all came crowding down, waving them on in welcome, urging them to
The reader first finds the character of Telemachus sitting among the suitors in his father’s palace. This seemingly unimportant detail yields information regarding his temperament. The suitors, whom Homer portrays as malicious usurpers, continue to take advantage of Telemachus’ hospitality. Instead of defending his home, his mother, and his belongings from these men, Telemachus numbers among them. This lack of assertiveness displays his frailty and his helplessness given the overwhelming circumstances. At this point, Athena, disguised as Odysseus’ old friend Mentes, visits Telemachus in order to “inspire his heart with courage” (I.105). The two share a meal and engage in a lengthy conversation. The goddess discusses how Telemachus should handle the troublesome suitors and suggests a journey to try to ascertain the whereabouts of Odysseus. The conversation appears to immediately galvanize the young man’s resolve. In fact, immediately after her departure, he summons the courage to confront the suitors, demanding that they are to leave his house at once. The assertiveness that Telemachus displays in this instance is a dramatic departure from ...
The women in The Odyssey are a fair representation of women in ancient Greek culture. In his work, Homer brings forth women of different prestige. First there are the goddesses, then Penelope, and lastly the servant girls. Each of the three factions forms an important part of The Odyssey and helps us look into what women were like in ancient Greece.
...ow Greek civilization was founded by women; they were the ones who gave birth to the heroes. Similarly, The Odyssey is a story created by women. The plot revolves around the actions of women. Athena orchestrates all the events. The seductresses, such as Circe, the sirens, and Calypso, attempt to stop Odysseus from reaching home. The helpmeets, such as Nausicaa, Arete, and Athena, aid Odysseus in his homecoming. The wise and virtuous Penelope is the object of Odysseus’ quest. Unlike Helen who forsakes her husband, Penelope remains faithful. Unlike Clytemnestra who assassinates her husband, Penelope patiently waits for Odysseus. She becomes a model of female patience and of female intelligence. Her craftiness is the only one which can match up to Odysseus’. The Odyssey presents a wide array of women and demonstrates the influence that women have in the life of a hero.
Hospitality in the greek is Xenia which was the guest to host friendship and obligations of the host and guest. The giving of gifts was usually done between guests and hosts. They really strived for a symbiotic give and take relationship in which the host does most of the leg work but a honorable and good guest would give so gift or reward in return. The only time when the host could really reject or throw out a guest was when a guest violated xenia terribly to the point where Zeus would give the order to seek justice for an act of such magnitude. For example when Paris is a guest in the King of Sparta Menelaus’ house as a guest and then steals his beautiful daughter from him and runs away. The theft of a princess is a major offense and would definitely deserve some repercussions it says many times in the Iliad of how the gods disapprove of this act.