Hospitality in the Odyssey

Hospitality in the Odyssey

It is very important for the people of the ancient world to practice hospitality. In the Odyssey, Athena, disguising herself as a seafaring man, appears at Odysseus’ palace. She is ignored at the front door by the suitors of Penelope. Later, Odysseus’ son, Telemachus, apologizes to her for the suitors’ lack of hospitality. He invites her to have a meal. In return, Athena offers the young prince a piece of good advice that he should go abroad in order to seek his father’s whereabouts. In this case, the host and the guest establish a mutually helpful and respectful relationship that ensures their safety and the society’s stability.

On the contrary, when the institution of hospitality is violated, both the host and the guest will be in the danger of mutual destruction. For example, when they go to the cave of the Cyclops, Polyphemus, Odysseus and his men, though having no intention to steal, still take the liberty to eat the food in the cave while the host is not there. The results in the one-eyed giant’s anger, and some of Odysseus’ men are devoured by the giant as punishment. In retaliation, Odysseus blinds the Cyclops and saves the rest of his men.

Generally speaking, travelling abroad in the ancient world is not as safe and comfortable as it is in today’s world, especially for a seafaring people like the Greeks. Therefore, Homer, the earliest and perhaps the greatest of all Greek poets, emphasizes the importance of hospitality in the epic, the Odyssey, by describing how travelers and their hosts should treat each other with respect so as to avoid any undesirable result on both parties.