The Role Of Xenia In Homer's Odyssey
The Value of Xenia on a Hero’s Journey A centralized idea in Ancient Greek society was the value of Xenia. Xenia was the Greek word for what we know as hospitality. Hospitality played a vital role in the way a person went about life and lived. In Homer’s epic poem the Odyssey, both Odysseus and his son Telemachus’ journey’s include frequent encounters of hospitality. Hospitality signifies the host and guest relationship. Honoring a guest was important to a host because it meant pleasing the Gods and Goddesses, establishing a notable reputation, and creating bonds with families and cities. Good hospitality was displayed with giving lavishing gifts that a guest would return home with and share stories of his stay with that host. Nevertheless,
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Telemachus greets this old friend of his fathers by seating the guest in a high chair of honor, provides an astounding feast, and washing the guest’s hands with the golden pitcher. Once they feast they would then move onto the traditional questions asked. Where do you come from or what is the purpose of your travels? Athena convinces Telemachus to set off on a journey to Pylos and Sparta. Telemachus’ passage will gather the news about his father’s condition and location, or whether Odysseus is still alive. The purpose for Telemachus’ journey would be to initiate the transition from a boy to a man. Telemachus greatly thanks the guest for the advice. Telemachus persists his guest to stay longer and offers desirable gifts, just as any good host would do. “But come, stay longer, keen as you are to sail, so you can bathe and rest and lift your spirits, then go back to your ship, delighted with a gift, a prize of honor, something rare and fine as a keepsake from myself. The kind of gift a host will give a stranger, friend to friend” (Book 1, 355-360). The quote signifies the friendly relationship that a guest and host establish. By Telemachus offering gifts he hopes to keep the reputable name of his father’s land and draw recognition from the Gods to bring Odysseus
Telemachus greets this old friend of his fathers by seating the guest in a high chair of honor, provides an astounding feast, and washing the guest’s hands with the golden pitcher. Once they feast they would then move onto the traditional questions asked. Where do you come from or what is the purpose of your travels? Athena convinces Telemachus to set off on a journey to Pylos and Sparta. Telemachus’ passage will gather the news about his father’s condition and location, or whether Odysseus is still alive. The purpose for Telemachus’ journey would be to initiate the transition from a boy to a man. Telemachus greatly thanks the guest for the advice. Telemachus persists his guest to stay longer and offers desirable gifts, just as any good host would do. “But come, stay longer, keen as you are to sail, so you can bathe and rest and lift your spirits, then go back to your ship, delighted with a gift, a prize of honor, something rare and fine as a keepsake from myself. The kind of gift a host will give a stranger, friend to friend” (Book 1, 355-360). The quote signifies the friendly relationship that a guest and host establish. By Telemachus offering gifts he hopes to keep the reputable name of his father’s land and draw recognition from the Gods to bring Odysseus