Xenia In Homer's Odyssey

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Xenia is the concept of hospitality towards guest, commonly seen in ancient greek history. Considering that the Odyssey is a epic poem based on real life, it constantly relies on the perception of xenia that it might not have occurred without it. Then on to been written without it. In the Odyssey, Xenia plays a huge role in the way you act and treat your personal guest.

Xenia is shown through a man by the name of Eumaeus, so if a god ever confronted him in a human form, he will be prepared. Eumaeus was a swineherd, which means that he tended to the pigs. Not only did the sophisticated people have xenia in ancient greece, but even someone as low in the political class of a swineherd shows Xenia. Eumaeus is explaining to an older man that even …show more content…
He is the man who always displays good Xenia. In this quote he was devastated when he realized that Athene had not been severed. Soon after he noticed Athene, he then waited to her. Telemachus took her by the hand, took her spear, and said that he would comfort her. Homer states: “He saw Athene and went straight to the forecourt, the heart within him scandalized that a guest would still be standing at the doors. He stood beside her and took her by the right hand, and relieve her of the bronze spear, and spoke to her and addressed her in winged words: "Welcome, stranger. You shall be entertained as a guest among us. Afterwards, when you have tasted dinner, you shall tell us what you need is." (Odyssey 1.118-124) Telemachus approached Athena and called her stranger, Athena is being confronted as a stranger and is still respected fully as if Telemachus had been knowing Athena his whole life. Next, Telemachus is explaining to a son like figure that his words will never be forgotten, as he will now be bathed and then they will be even. Telemachus replied: ‘My guest, your words to me are very kind and considerate, what any father would say to his son. I shall not forget them. But come now, stay with me, eager though you are for your journey, so that you must first bathe and take your ease and, well rested and happy in your heart,
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