Greek Myth (Xenia)

Hospitality is extremely important in Homer's "Odyssey." The higher a society's level of hospitality, the more civilized that society is. Some specific examples of hospitality in "The Odyssey" are: Telemakhos's treatment upon his arrival in Nestor, Odysseus's treatment of Polyphemus, Penelope's treatment of her suitors, and the slaying of those suitors by Odysseus. The Greek belief concerning the origin of the concept of hospitality, often called Xenia, is reflected at the end of "The Odyssey."

The more hospitably guests are treated, the more civilized the society becomes. For example, the Cyclops Polyphemus is not at all civilized. This is evidenced by how he treats his guests: he eats them, even when odysseus warns him of xenia. In direct contrast to that is how Telemakhos is treated when he reaches Nestor. He is offered food and shelter before anybody even bothers to ask for his name. Because Polyphemus treats his guests poorly, he is not civilized. Nestor is civilized because he treats all guests like kings. Hospitality equals civilization.

While Odysseus is away, Penelope has to provide hospitality to many suitors, in spite of the fact that she hates them and wants them all to leave. For years she simply deceives them in order to conform to Greek beliefs of hospitality. When her husband, Odysseus, finally returns, he slays the suitors. Even though it appears they deserved it, this action is a severe breach of Xenia, or Greek hospitality.

The way in which "The Odyssey" ends reflects the Greek belief concerning the origin of the concept of hospitality. Hospitality is a requirement of the God Zeus. Odysseus's actions basically force him away from society, reducing him to the level of Polyphemus. Because of this extreme breach of hospitality, the gray-eyed Goddess Athena had to come down and restore his status in the community. Hospitality was of paramount importance to ancient Greek society. This was so because the level of hospitality was