Hospitality In The Odyssey Essay

631 Words2 Pages

Greece is composed of numerous regions and in Ancient Greece each of them has their own customs.According to Greek people, hospitality is a custom, kindness and a divine right.In addition to this, it is important for them to entertain their guests There is also the significance of giving gifts in the Ancient Greek culture.Hospitality allows people to rest and relax. Because of the extreme importance of hospitality, guests or hosts who break this rule are harshly punished by the gods. When they follow this rule they are rewarded.Hospitality consists of two main rules.The first one is the respect from host to guest.The host is expected to make sure the needs of his guests and must be hospitable to the guest by giving food, drink and shelter.The …show more content…

The Odyssey is an epic.The main character is Odysseus.During the journey, he experiences so many obstacles that challenge his faith and loyalty.It guides to hospitality.The aspect of hospitality in the Odyssey is a central theme. It is is filled with descriptions of the feasting and gift giving by generous hosts..Telemachus and Odysseus receive warm hospitality throughout their journeys from others. For example, Athena helps them by disguising herself as Mentor. When Telemachus is at King Nestor's palace, Nestor and the Pylians do not let him go without gifts.And they provide food and drink to entertain him.They also help him on his journey home. Another example is that when Telemachus reaches Sparta, Menelaus and Helen give Telemachus gifts to ensure a close …show more content…

But the suitors’ attitude towards Odysseus is not good.They are wasting his goods, want to marry his wife Penelope and take over his kingdom.They even threaten him.So they are bad hosts.Another example is that Poseidon’s son Polyphemus shows lack of hospitality and ignores the guests’ requests.He destroys two men of Odysseus and imprisons Odysseus and the rest.Calypso is a goddess who wanst to keep Odysseus as her husband but he rejects.Circe also tries to keep him but she is refused.Although Calypso and Circe have so many things to offer him, their generosity is too much for Odysseus.Instead of staying, he leaves to reach Ithaca.Moreover, the winds pull Odysseus and the crew to Ismarus which is the city of the Cicones.But the Cicones attack them.Odysseus and his crew finally escape but they have lost six men per ship.Zeus sends a storm which brings them to the land of the Lotus-eaters.The natives give some of the men the fruit of the lotus.When they eat it, they lose the thought of home and want to eat more fruit.Those attitudes show that the Cicones and the Lotus-eaters are bad

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