The Role Of Hospitality In The Odyssey

The Odyssey was a story of many themes and one in particular was hospitality. Hospitality also known as Xenia is the relationship between a guest and host, and for the Greeks it was extremely important to their lifestyle. Throughout the book there is an understanding in their culture of a “good” host to their guest. First, you feed your guest, bathe them, clothe them and finally question them. From the book, it is made clear that the god Zeus was responsible for the punishment and rewarding of those who were bad or good hosts and guests. In the Odyssey there is a representation of either good and bad guests or hosts. Like the interaction Odysseus has with the Phaiakians and Kyklopes, who ways of life were very different.

Civilization is characterized by the advancement of that society, including the level of culture has been reached. The Phaiakians were a people who would be considered civilized. They were a people of great wealth in resources and materialistic things. On page 113 lines 89-140 Homer explains in

great description the things Odysseus observes while walking through the house. “The doors were golden, with bronze plated wide doorsill, the posts and lintels were silver upon silver; golden handles curves on the doors”(Homer, 113. Lines 93-97). He elaborates by discussing the bountiful amount of resources of food that were from the heavens to Alkinoos. The Phaiakian society thrived from the individual skills of their population and their ability to work together. Homer states that “skillful as were the men of Phaiakia in ship handling at sea, so were these women skilled at the loom, having this lovely craft and artistry as talents from Athena” (Homer, 114. Lines 115-118). In the rooms there were tall chairs embroidered with stuff made by the women. Women and children supplied the food, and services for their king and nobles, illustrating the idea that their civilization worked together as a whole.
In reference to the actual encounters between Odysseus and these two different groups of people illustrated the theme of hospitality. The Phaiakians understood the importance of being hospitable. They were also a god-fearing people that respected Zeus not as the lord of lightning, but advocate of beggars and strangers like, Odysseus. The king Alkinoos listened to Odysseus story and welcomed him to join the festivities. They gave libations to Zeus and Odysseus was fed, bathed and clothed. He was then given assistants in his voyage home. He had received entertainment, and was made to feel comfortable. They made sure his stay with them was memorable and one to tell to others.
However, the Kyklopes were the total opposite of the Phaiakians.

In the book, Odysseus describes these one-eye giants as barbaric and arrogant creatures. Odysseus states “they neither plow nor sow by hand…wild wheat grow and barley grow untended, and wine grapes, in clusters, ripen in heavens rain” (Homer, 148. Lines 116-119). Due to their homeland being so luxurious they don’t need to nurture crops. Although they are effective herdsmen, they have no interest in doing it the way humans do. It was also said that “Kyklopes have no muster and no meeting, no consultation or old tribal ways” (Homer, 148. Lines 120-121). Their lack of structure in law, order and cultural beliefs means they have no traditions of civility or hospitality. When Odysseus' curiosity leads him to Polyphemus' cave, his men want to raid it and leave. Odysseus insists on staying to try the hospitality of the owner, a decision that ultimately results in the death of several of his

men.

While on the island of Kyklopes, Polyphemos son of Poseidon and nearly as powerful as the gods responds to Odysseus,“ We Kyklopes care not a whistle for your thundering Zeus or all the gods in bliss; we have more force by far.” Polyphemus ridicules at the concept of hospitality and ate two of his companions in their first meeting of one another. Polyphemos states” I would not let you go for fear of Zeus- you or your friends unless I had a whim to”(Homer, 153. Lines 301-302). Telling unlike the Phaiakians who were a god-fearing community, Polyphemos (Kyklopes) cared very little for Zeus, which meant he felt the same for strangers as well. By trapping Odysseus and his men in his cave; Polyphemos was imposing on their rights as guests to leave as they please. By doing so he made Odysseus and his crew feel alarmed and uncomfortable, showing that hospitality is not important to them (kyklopes).
Uncivilized is to not be considered socially, culturally and morally advanced. It is to be a savage like creature, uneducated or rude.