In The Odyssey an epic poem by Homer, Odysseus goes on a twenty year voyage which includes the Trojan War when a sea nymph named Kalypso holds Odysseus captive. During this trip Odysseus meets a lot of new people and when he meets these new people they treat him like he is family, this concept is known as hospitality. In this epic poem this theme is constantly shown by some of the main characters and other characters too. Most forms of hospitality are good but at times there is also bad hospitality shown. Both positive and negative examples of hospitality exist in The Odyssey; Homer uses both these examples to suggest that good hospitality shows loyalty and nobility to others while bad hospitality shows that that person does not care about…
In The Odyssey written by Homer and translated by Richard Lattimore, several themes are made evident, conceived by the nature of the time period, and customs of the Greek people. These molded and shaped the actual flow of events and outcomes of the poem. Beliefs of this characteristic were represented by the sheer reverence towards the gods and the humanities the Greek society exhibited, and are both deeply rooted within the story.…
In book 6 and 7 of the Odyssey our hero, Odysseus is first introduced to the Phaeacian society. We can see from the beginning of book 6 to the end of book 7 that the Phaeacians want to do nothing but help our broken-down, distressed and homesick hero, who wants nothing more than to return to his home land of Ithica. They help him get back on his feet and on his way again. “I now appoint a day for your departure home: tomorrow. You shall lie deep in sleep while they row you over tranquil seas,” They show an immeasurable amount of hospitality toward Odysseus, putting a fine roof over his head, the finest clothes on his back and the most luxurious of foods and wines in his stomach. “White-armed Arete gave her maids instructions to put a bed in the portico and to furnish it with the finest purple rugs, spread coverlets over these and add warm blankets on top.” These people show great xenia to Odysseus allowing him to sit in Alcinous’ favourite son’s chair, showing the reader that Odysseus is more than welcome in their society.…
Homer’s Odyssey can teach us about culture in ancient Greece through Odysseus’ voyage home. In the epic poem hospitality, or “xenia,” is expressed as a reoccurring theme. Throughout the epic poem, there are different examples of hosts and guests.…
The ancient Greek code of hospitality xenia influenced the epic in various ways. The Phaeacians welcome Odysseus under this code. “’In accordance with our [Phaeacian] custom, let us make the immediate arrangements to escort him [Odysseus]’” (95). They followed with their custom and later saw him back to Ithaca. This influences the end of the epic greatly without the Phaeacians generous interpretation of xenia Odysseus would never have reached home and taken revenge on the suitors. Xenia was shown again when Telemachus welcomed Athene into his when she wore the guise of Mentes he fed her and asked about his father. She told him to go inquire about Odysseus’s fate. He does this and learns of no accounts of his father’s death so he was more apt…
The story, The Odyssey, by Homer is about King Odysseus of Ithaca and his long journey and struggles to get back home. He was known as a strong, courageous and cunning warrior. He left home to fight in the Trojan War that lasted 10 years. On his journey back to Ithaca he meets up with different setbacks that ends up taking him 19 years to return home. While he is gone a group of wooers try to marry his wife Penelope and kill his son Telemachus. Odysseus creates a plan to disguise himself as a beggar and take back his throne. Odysseus almost losses Ithaca and everyone he loved. He is justified in killing all of the wooers to keep his wife Penelope, save his son Telemachus’ life and getting rid of every wooer that hurt his family to take back his…
Imagine a time when a person could walk up to a stranger’s door and immediately be welcomed and situated comfortably within the home. The idea that this is ridiculous and nevertheless unsafe is rather unheard of during the time of the Ancient Greeks. Hospitality is perhaps the most important and most popular quality of their society. Homer, a Greek author, tells his readers in his epic, The Odyssey, the significance of xenia demonstrated by characters when they are tested for their loyalty or when they are in need of help, representing the philosophy of the Greek culture.…
Greek hospitality is a very big subject in the odyssey, it focus on respect and taking in someone even if you don't know them, but accepting them as a guest through the kindness of your heart. These good and bad examples show ways in which hospitality throughout Greece and the odyssey is used. This pretty much sums up the subject for Greek hospitality and how it contributed to the odyssey so as always, have a good…
Beginning with one of the major themes found in the Odyssey is hospitality. The Greeks emphasized the relationship between hosts and guests who settled in their homes. Homer writes, “we ourselves here as suppliants…
People often make the mistake of avoiding challenges that come in life. The Odyssey, written by Homer, tells the story of Odysseus’ arduous journey home from Troy. During his 10-year trek, he encounters many temptations of a life of ease that would test his determination to return home. Although this literary classic was written over 2500 years ago, it is still studied today and is one of the most influential texts in Western literature. The Odyssey is a timeless literary composition, because it shows how human nature causes people to make mistakes that would prevent them from achieving their destiny. Homer asserts that in order to live a fulfilled life, people must reach out of their comfort zone and stand up to all of the challenges that…
Through epics like the Odyssey, Ancient Greeks learned the value of hospitality and of the importance that it had in their daily life. All throughout the entire Odyssey bad Xenia led to punishments and misfortune while good Xenia led to fulfillment and reward. He does this by showing bad things happening to those who abuse hospitality such as the suitors, and good things happening to those who practice good hospitality such as Eumaeus, the loyal…
Have you ever had a remarkably good host? Can you recall what about the host made him or her great? Rather, have you ever had a very bad host? What was wrong with the host, so that you would remember how bad he or she was? In The Odyssey by Homer, hosts are also quite important, debatably more important than they are today. Back in the days of ancient Greece, hosts were expected to be helpful and hospitable and they were expected to serve their guests well, with generosity.…
They offer little to no hospitality to Odysseus. Although one suitor does offer hospitality to Odysseus after he wins a fight ( page 187) , it's very brief. The suitors do not fear or honor Zeus because of their own carelessness and foolishness. They underestimate the power of Zeus. This is ironic because this part of the story teaches the consequences of being inhospitable. On page 211 it shows the support Zeus has for Odysseus, and the suitor’s deaths. Zeus fires off a lightning bolt right before the suitor’s deaths. Earlier in the story ( page 146) it shows the opposing opinion on Odysseus, from Zeus since he destroys his whole ship. Zeus destroys the ship since Odysseus’ crew eats Helios’ sacred cattle. This turn from unsupporting Odysseus to supporting him shows that something makes Zeus change. That something could either be a bloodlust or revenge for not following the hospitality code. It's probably both honestly. This book ( Book 22 ) also shows that you should always be hospitable to everyone because you don’t know if a god or a king is a filthy looking beggar in disguise. This fear of gods, maybe being a beggar in disguise, shows that people in Ancient Greece would have been to afraid to deny…
Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey demonstrates the importance of hospitality to wanderers and strangers by showing numerous examples of how a host and a guest should properly interact with one another.…
Homer the Odyssey tells the tale of a journey of the hero Odysseus and the journey…