The Dangers Of Hospitality In The Iliad

In the times of the ancient Greek society, there were no options for lodging around the towns that could accommodate travelers. Due to this predicament, many travelers ended up staying with a stranger or a family that hosted them. During this time, traveling was very treacherous and the time spent traveling on the road kept the traveler away from their home for an extended period of time. These factors opened the traveler up to many dangers while making their way to their destination, such as mugging, murder, not being able to find nutrition, or not having a place to stay. To avoid these hardships, almost every Greek abided by the concept of hospitality. In The Iliad, hospitality was shown when Achilles accepted the heralds into his camp, when the story of Bellerophon and Oeneus
Agamemnon had previously insulted Achilles in front of the entire army and dishonored him by confiscating his prize, Briseis, the girl Achilles loved. Achilles could have flat out denied the heralds entry and not listened to what Agamemnon had to say, but instead, he allowed them into his hut. However, not only did he welcome them, he supplied a feast of goat, sheep, and boar’s meat along with as much wine as his guests desired, making sure none of them left hungry or parched. He also furnished his guests with comfortable rugs and couches to sit on while they discussed the issues ahead of them. Achilles then respectfully listened to what Odysseus had to say in Agamemnon’s favor, not once showing a hint of disrespect or contempt. When Odysseus had stated all the gifts and lavish treatment Achilles would gain from going back into the war, Achilles politely explained to the men why he refused the gifts and that no one could convince him to join the fight again. Achilles even allowed Phoenix to make the choice to stay with him for that night and sail back with him on the voyage