Greek Value Of Hospitality In Homer's Odyssey

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I. The Greek value of always being hospitable to strangers was crucial a crucial aspect to their society. One must always be hospitable to stranger, despite not knowing them, for they might be an important Greek god. The four characters that would be admired by the gods for showing hospitality in The Odyssey, by Homer, would be Aeolus, the Phaeacians, Menelaus, and Circe.

II. In the Odyssey, the Greek value of always being hospitable to strangers is continuously shown by the mortal character Aeolus. When Odysseus leaves the island of the Cyclops, he reaches on the Aeolian island of Aeolus’s son, Hippopotas. There, Aeolus hosts Odysseus on his island for one month, providing him with feasts and luxurious goods. When Odysseus is ready to leave, Aeolus gives him the skins of a prime-ox to hold the ways of roaring wind and sends him on his way. Odysseus, retelling …show more content…
After a close confrontation with Charybdis, the sucking whirlpool, Odysseus is welcomed onto the island of the Phaeacians immediately.They provide Odysseus with wonderful dinners and many gifts during his stay. When Odysseus is ready to leave, they have a ceremony and send him peacefully on his way. Odysseus, thanking the Phaeacians for their hospitable behavior, said, “Sir, and all of you, farewell. Make your drink-offerings and send me on my way rejoicing, for you have fulfilled my heart’s desire by giving me an escort and making me presents, which heaven grant that I many turn to good account; may heaven vouchsafe you every good grace, and may no evil thing come among your people.” (page 138) Here, the Phaeacians would be admired by the Greek gods because they took Odysseus in and provided him with incredible hospitality over the course of his stay. Even though they didn’t know him, they still went above and beyond in order to make him feel comfortable because they didn’t know if he wasn important Greek god or
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