Xenia In The Odyssey

Words: 844
Pages: 4
Open Document
Xenia, the Greek concept of Hospitality, was an ancient and powerful institution in Greece, which formed alliances and created relationships with people through and the guest host relationship. Xenia was more than just being polite to strangers. It was a custom that defined how the guest and the host would act. It is expected of the host to treat their guests with the utmost respect, hospitality, and warmth even when the guest is a complete stranger. An example of this is the Phaeacians, who let a wandering stranger (Odysseus) into the home and treat him with the utmost respect and hospitality. Another example of a Good host is Nestor. Telemachus arrives at Plyos while Nestor is holding a feast, and is welcomed by them, and joins in …show more content…
In the role of the guest, the suitors insult their host by outstaying their welcome, by making difficult demands on the house by drinking and eating up the kingdom's asset, and by attempting to kill Telemachus. Odysseus returns to Ithaca to find his estate in chaos. These are not the proper actions of a guest within the guest host relationship. They hound Penelope with entreaties to marry them and gifts so they will become the king of Ithaca. It is not polite to hound a woman who clearly does not want to marry, so this is another situation where the guest forget the rules of Xenia or simply don’t care. Odysseus gets angry and makes a plan to purge the suitors from his estate. He then proceeds to slaughter them. This is a bad thing for a host to do, because a host is supposed to protect his guests, therefore Odysseus is punished. After he has slaughtered all the suitors, he tells Penelope, "To be careful" because "as soon as the sun rises, everyone will hear about the men I have killed.” his punishment is that he has to go to his father's house and hide in fear for his life, for a short period of time, because the families of the suitors are honor-bound to kill him. In the Odyssey the guest host relationship is very important to well being of people. Homer, it seems, believes that if one of the two the guest or the host acts improperly then something bad will happen. Throughout the story, bad Xenia is punished and good Xenia brings rewards to those who offer it. It was religious, it was beneficial, and it distinguished the Greeks from their barbarian neighbors. The Odyssey as well as being an entertaining read reinforces the idea of the Greeks as a civil
Show More

Related Documents: Xenia In The Odyssey

Xenia In Homer's Odyssey

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…

Words 840 - Pages 4

Examples Of Xenia In The Odyssey

We Could Use Some Xenia Nowadays Xenia is something this world desperately needs. xenia was the belief of hospitality and generosity was to be offered when a guest came to your home. Homer instills this belief all throughout The Odyssey, showing the significant value it held in Greek Society. In the modern world, hospitality is no longer seen as a common practice, but rather must be bought. We expect to be treated with hospitality when we go to a hotel, resort, or restaurant, but when we go to…

Words 639 - Pages 3

Examples Of Bad Xenia In The Odyssey

people to be kind to strangers. Xenia was a very important theme in Greek society. In The Odyssey by Homer many different characters displayed good and bad xenia. Homer displays how xenia was so important by showing the consequences that followed depending on whether they displayed good or bad xenia. In old Greek life, people were expected to display good xenia and if you showed bad xenia the consequences would be bad. Many characters displayed bad xenia in the Odyssey and were punished for it. The…

Words 645 - Pages 3

Generosity And Xenia In Homer's The Odyssey

In Homers The Odyssey, many acts of hospitality and kindness are shown. This is seen throughout the book but especially in the Greek culture and customs. Another way to express hospitality is the term Xenia, which means generosity and kindness. In the novel, the characters treat each other with lots of respect, kindness, and hospitality. One example of this theme is when Athena arrived in the land, Nestor and all his sons were waiting for her as if she was a great queen."As soon as they saw the strangers…

Words 122 - Pages 1

The Presence Of Xenia In Homer's The Odyssey

First and foremost, the presence of Xenia in “The Odyssey” is exemplified numerous times, demonstrating its importance to the ancient Greeks. Throughout their journey, Odysseus and his men stumbled upon an interesting island of the Cyclops, Polyphemus. Lacking forethought, Odysseus, knowing he was under the protection of the gods, was not afraid of wandering into the cave of a flesh-eating brute. However, his men were begging Odysseus with a more attractive offer, “Why not take cheese, get them stowed…

Words 253 - Pages 2

Xenia In Homer's Odyssey

character. The theme is different in all chapters and has a huge impact on the story. Xenia is one of the theme, the concept of Xenia and the respect of guests. Odysseus encounters with Cyclops and when Polyphemus eats Odysseus men, the prayers to the gods and the asking for help. “Hopes of warm welcome, even a guest-gift, the sort that hosts give strangers. That’s the custom” (9. 301-302). Polyphemus didn’t know Xenia. When Odysseus and his men are tempted to stay as Helios the sun god’s land even though…

Words 184 - Pages 1

Essay on How xenia is presented in the first 4 books of the Odyssey by Homer

In the first 4 books of the Odyssey xenia is shown in various different ways. Xenia is the Greek word meaning the ancient Greek concept of hospitality and generosity shown to the guest, especially those who are far from home. This would involve welcoming the guest; taking for safekeeping any objects during their stay (e.g. Athena’s spear in book 1); offering them food and drink before finally moving on to discussing business, and gifting them with something upon leaving. It was believed by many…

Words 1689 - Pages 7

Generosity In The Odyssey

The Iliad and The Odyssey are epics studied from students to literary scholars. These ancient literature tell the story of a hero’s return, while outlining aspects of Ancient Greece. Reading Homer’s The Odyssey reveals hospitality through plot by repeating the importance of generosity in Ancient Greece, which differs from the communities of contemporary readers. Throughout The Odyssey, hospitality, or xenia, is a continuous pattern. Odysseus faces this concept many times. Xenia introduced Odysseus’…

Words 373 - Pages 2

Essay about xenia classics

beliefs have on your chosen character(s) and other characters in the text. * Beliefs may be political, or religious, or social, or cultural ­ Xenia The ancient Greeks had many morals and beliefs which stood as the core of their society and were a huge influence on how it functioned as a whole. One of the most common morals was xenia. Xenia is the ancient Greek concept of hospitality, the generosity and courtesy shown to those who are far from home and/or associates of the person bestowing guest­friendship…

Words 1003 - Pages 5

In What Ways Is the Telemachy Important to the Odyssey as a Whole Essays

In what ways is the Telemachy important to the Odyssey as a whole? What would the poem lose if these first four books were removed? Homer’s the Odyssey is the epic tale of Odysseus’ return home from the battle of Troy, yet we do not truly get to the hero in action until after we are drawn through the story of his son life in the absence of his father in Ithaka. In the first four books, we see how Telemachos, Odysseus’ son, matures and through his eyes Homer shows us the unrest and troubles of…

Words 1543 - Pages 7