Based on your reading of Homer's Odyssey, what is suggested about the relationship between hosts and guests? Does Homer suggest that there are certain appropriate behaviors for host and also guest?
In your post, consider the story of Alkinoos.
Be sure to include within your post direct reference to the Odyssey, as a means of supporting your statements.
The relationship between hosts and their guest was best made clear by Echeneus, a Phaeacians elder, when he spoke bluntly to King Alcinous when he said nothing upon Ulysses arrival in Book VII of The Odyssey.
"Alcinous," said he, "it is not creditable to you that a stranger should be seen sitting among the ashes of your hearth; every one is waiting to hear what you are about to say; tell him, then, to rise and take a seat on a stool inlaid with silver, and bid your servants mix some wine and water that we may make a drink offering to Jove the lord of thunder, who takes all well disposed suppliants under his protection; and let the housekeeper give him some supper, of whatever there may be in the house" (Homer, 1897, p. 38).
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They were to be welcoming to their guest as well as provide food, clothing, and shelter. Nestor in Book III of the Odyssey shows an outstanding example of this. “When they saw the strangers they crowded round them, took them by the hand and bade them take their places. Nestor's son Pisistratus at once offered his hand to each of them, and seated them on some soft sheepskins that were lying on the sands near his father and his brother Thrasymedes. Then he gave them their portions of the inward meats and poured wine for them into a golden cup, handing it to Minerva first, and saluting her at the same time” (Homer, 1897, p.
Growing up I was fascinated with Greek mythology. I found the bits and pieces of myth and lore highly entertaining but I seldom received anything of weight from them. Since then I have had only brief forays into the Greek world which makes The Odyssey fairly easy to pull new elements of Greek culture from. Throughout all of Homer’s epic, hospitality is mentioned again and again, highlighting two important aspects of their society. The first is how important hospitality is to them in the first place and second is their fear of retribution from the gods. This fear is pervasive and is even shown clearly by the importance of hospitality.
On the other side of that, there are a few instances where hospitality is not exactly shown and Odysseus begins to questions their stay. The first side of hospitality that Homer really likes to show is the Positive and that brings in a few different books such as Telemachus treating Athena with food or Eumaeus ' reception with Odysseus. While there are many great offers of hospitality, the ones of negativity are playing out within the house of Penelope or Polyphemus ' cave. Lastly, within both sides of the hospitality, there are some common elements that define whether it is indeed respectable hospitality and I believe Homer wanted the readers to picture this in the overall
In the epic poem The Odyssey, Homer illustrates that one 's nobility is determined by one 's capacity to maintain the traditions of hospitality. Odysseus has left his home of Ithaca, and has not been able return home for decades due to the Trojan War. Since he left for war, he was compelled to leave his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus, behind. Numerous suitors attempt to claim Penelope, as they want to obtain the vacant throne, but Penelope remains loyal and declines their engagement. Instead of leaving, the suitors stay in Odysseus’ residence and are distinctly unlawful and unstable. Since conformity to the laws of hospitality determines how dignified one is, one must always provide adequate hospitality to visitors, and in turn, the visitors cannot take advantage of the host. Homer shows this theme through the hospitable actions of Menelaus and Telemachus and contrasts the
In the Odyssey, as in The Epic of Gilgamesh if the person is good to their God(s) and/or Goddesses they will bestow the same hospitality upon the person. Because, Gilgamesh was good to the Gods, they were hospitable to him an helped him in battle by being victorious. "Then he escorted her to a high, elaborate chair of honor, over it draped a cloth, and here he placed his guest with a stool to rest her feet." Unknowing Telemachus, son of Odysseus, gave Athena the respect and hospitality even which a mere stranger should receive because of their values. Meaning a courteous stay with the best quality of services that the host can perform. In the Odyssey, Athena provides a spark to the son of Odysseus, Telemachus, that his father is very much
King Alcinous is shown giving up his son’s seat for an unknown stranger, thus executing the laws of Xenia. This simple act of kindness tells readers that a guest-host relationship surpasses the importance of a father-son relationship in Ancient Greece. Readers also notice the syntactic contrast between the status of the guest, Odysseus, and the host, Alcinous. Homer depicts the king “poised in all majesty” helping one who is “seasoned”. This diction used to describe these individuals helps to provide readers with a deeper understanding of hospitality as an unconditional system to aid a guest. Despite King Alcinous’ dignity of manner, he unselfishly goes out his way to help battle-weary Odysseus. The king’s actions, to some extent, increase the status of Odysseus in line 201, as Alcinous raises him from the floor and places him on a polished chair. He gives Odysseus a sense of self-assurance and worthiness to make him feel even more welcomed in his house than
As technology slowly consumes society, the custom of hosting a stranger, or even a friend, is gradually declining. Thankfully, The Odyssey, written by Homer, gives an example of the ideal host. The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus’ trials and tribulations as he makes his way home from Troy. As Odysseus is on his journey home, he finds himself on the island of Phaeacia. While on Phaeacia, Odysseus humbles himself and accepts the kindness and generosity the Phaeacians offer him. This is the last stop for Odysseus before his journey finally comes to an end when he reaches Ithaca. Throughout his stay on Phaeacia Odysseus will experience the ideal way to host a guest. The Phaeacians are the ideal host because they welcome Odysseus into their home without
The Odyssey was written by Homer. In the Odyssey there is a lot of information on the social structure of Ancient Greece. In Social Organization in Ancient Greece it says that there was a sacred rituals of some sort call Xania. Xania is when you have to treat your guest with respect and protect them
Being a good host is one of the most important social rules of Greek culture. If one wishes to be a good leader he must always honor strangers looking for shelter. The Greeks put a high value on hospitality to ensure no mistreatment of the gods should they visit in disguise. Homer begins with a prime example of a model host and leader. Alcinous “…awoke in his sacred might…” 1 is the paragon of a good host. This is first exampled when he holds an assembly and gives a speech to the other leaders. In this act he not only shows he is a good host by giving Odysseus unconditional help he also shows his ability as a leader through the much revered quality of speech making. When he sees Odysseus cry at the tale of Demodocus Alcinous demonstrates his aptitude for hosting by interrupting “…enough of feasting now, and of the lyre that complements the feast. We should go outdoors for some contest...” 2. By doing this he shows that he...
Hospitality was very important to the ancient world. Not only was it important to them, but it’s still important now. Hospitality is the welcoming of your guest by entertainment and catering. In each book of the Odyssey, we see hospitality when a new character is introduced. Ancient greek people were taught to treat their guest well. Although, that wasn't always the case.
In the era of Homer, hospitality is a crucial part of social existence, and all Greeks put an emphasis on hospitality no matter the circumstance. Taking place in the 10 years after the events in the Iliad with the Trojan War, Homer’s the Odyssey displays notable depictions of the themes hospitality and home. In this epic, hospitality and home can be said to be major themes in the sense that it is involved in nearly every situation and ultimately affects the protagonist, Odysseus, throughout the poem. First and foremost, hospitality and home are the reasons why Odysseus suffers a prolonged journey returning home to Ithaca, specifically when he comes across Kalypso, Polyphemos, and Circe. In the years of Odysseus’s absence, his wife, Penelope,
The Odyssey, with its various examples of good and bad hospitality, offers the reader a look into the world of the Greeks, and the importance of the cultural element that hospitality played in their daily lives. The importance of hospitality goes beyond being a gracious host; there is a threat of violence if a host or guest does not fulfill their responsibilities. Throughout the novel, bad hospitality is punished with bad “karma” and good hospitality brings rewards to the people who demonstrate it. For example, Telemachus was highly respected because he follows the common greek archetype of being hospitable. Polyphemus, on the other hand, was not respected but instead seen as rude and inconsiderate because he was not hospitable. Hospitality
The guest host relationship is discovered in a number of places throughout The Odyssey. The interactions Telemachus and Odysseus have with their hosts help use to understand what xenia is and what we should expect. Each occurrence shares elements of hospitality in common. They had in common things such as the ability to have a bath, the feast, the question of who the guest is, a gift for the guest and the assurance of transportation and protection. Gift giving and respect in Homeric society allows for peace between neighboring city-states of Ancient Greece. If you show respect to a traveler when you or if you ever have to go to their home you would expect the same treatment you had once given them.
In the Odyssey, the tradition of hospitality is shown being broke in several ways. When a person in Ancient Greece received a guest, they were to treat them with the highest respect and they should offer them gifts. The host was expected to give the guest a place to bathe, something to eat, and if they were of importance they should make a sacrifice. This tradition was not followed by the Cyclops Polyphemus and the suitors in Ithaca. When Odysseus and his men arrived in the cave of Polyphemus, they were hardly treated with proper hospitality. Not only did Polyphemus eat some of Odysseus’ men, but he also blocked the only entrance to the cave with a giant boulder. Odysseus was offended by the treatment and warned the Cyclops that Zeus will punish him. Polyphemus ignored the warning and was eventually outsmarted by Odysseus for his escape.
Hospitality today is nothing like it was in Ancient Greece. Today, good hospitality is being friendly and respectful to a guest. In Ancient Greece, hospitality was something people had to do, or face the wrath of Zeus. Zeus’s law of hospitality is that any stranger that comes to your home, the host must be willing to feed, entertain, and maybe offer them a bath and anything else they might be in need of without question until those things had been given, and also give them a parting gift. The guest, in turn, would not be a burden in any way. In The Odyssey, most people follow the rules of hospitality, but there are others who do not. The Greek concept of xenia shows the serious priority the Greeks place on the laws of the gods.
The concept of guest friendship is an essential tool that promises safety in everyday ancient Greek life and the significance it carries is reflected in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. It is enforced not only by the mortals in traditional domestic settings, but also on the battlefield and by the gods themselves. The warriors in the Iliad and the Odyssey respect xenia more than they desire kleos.