The Role Of Xenia In The Odyssey

The hospitality is both wanted by the guest and willingly given by the host, and Menelaus fulfills all the “requirements” that are expected of a good host. Telemachus is bathed by the women of Menelaus’s palace, which is a recurring example of good hospitality in Homer’s works. The women “draw warm fleece and shirts around their shoulders” (Homer, 240), and Menelaus welcomes him with a grand feast. He tells Telemachus to “Help yourselves to food, and welcome! Once you’ve dined we’ll ask you who you are” (Homer, 240); here he demonstrates that he knows the proper “principles” of xenia, as he only asks questions after he serves his guests. “I’ll give you a princely send-off – shining gifts, three stallions and a chariot burnished bright- and I’ll add a gorgeous cup so you can pour libations out to the deathless gods on high and remember Menelaus all your days” (Homer, 253). The “three stallions and a chariot” included in his gifts to Telemachus are meant to serve as transportation. “…and remember Menelaus all your days” – as stated previously, hospitality could have been used to spread a person’s name if they would provide a high standard of it to strangers, and Menelaus would have wanted to be known for his hospitality. He also would have wanted for Telemachus, the son of the known Odysseus, to remember that Menelaus

Since traveling was very lengthy, in order to survive such tedious journeys, travelers had to rely on the mercy of stranger’s protection, food, and shelter or good Xenia. According to “The Value of Hospitality” on Union.edu, it was possible for foreign travelers to be killed or captured for entering a foreign land. They could find some hope of safety through Xenia. In accordance with Karen Carr’s article “ Xenia- guest, and hosts in ancient Greece”, “In ancient Greece, xenia meant the way you treat strangers or foreigners. It comes from a very old Proto-Indo-European (Yamnaya) word that means stranger but also guest and host and foreigner and sometimes enemy.” The host had no choice but to welcome them despite their identity or profession. Hosts had to conquer their fear and give the guests proper treatment regardless of what danger the guest might bring forward. However, the relationship between the host and the guest is said to be mutual and friendly. Hence, practicing the proper Xenia was taken very seriously in ancient Greek. In fact, people were almost obligated to follow it’s principles since it was a religious duty. The proper practice of Xenia is widely depicted in various scenes in The Odyssey that gives further insight into the characters such as Telemachus, Penelope, and king Nesto who were civilized and noble. People practicing the Xenia didn’t only mean that they had virtue and piety but also had fear and respect for Zeus. Travelers often relied on Zeus for

Xenia, which is hospitality towards strangers, plays an essential part in ancient Greek culture. In the time that The Odyssey was written, poor men with good xenia would treat strangers unexpectedly. Men and women with this hospitality were spread throughout Greece in the medieval age, unlike now. The honor of a person could be tested by the xenia he or she had and was important in ancient Greece. Hospitality played a significant role in The Odyssey because the Phaeacians showed great xenia towards strayed Odysseus and Eumaios cared for the unknown beggar.

It could be contested that The Odyssey was intended to appeal to women as the main audience, as evidenced by a strong focus on relationships and female characters. Homer maximizes women, subtly drawing out their power and making them appear larger than life; Penelope is a prime example of this. J.W. Mackail, a Scottish literary historian, also agrees, stating that “Penelope is one of the great women of history. If at first sight she seems more remote from, or even contrary to, modern ideals, a larger and more intelligent view will alter that misconception. She will reveal herself as no obsolete type, but as an individual figure, of extraordinary complexity, and intensely human because

Hospitality in Greece Xenia was a Greek word for the connection between the guest and the host. Hospitality was further common in Ancient Greece than other civilizations. Zeus the King of Gods shaped this decree for it to become a social norm in earliest society. He belief that as a stranger you are given security and as the host, you authorize to make the foreigner feel at ease in your kingdom. Without it, strangers could be incarcerated or even executed for infiltrating an unfamiliar land. Because of this law, outsiders depend on it for protection, food, and shelter. In exchange the Gods above would grant the host gifts, prosperity, and as Odysseys, Penelope and Emaues repeats whatever your heart's desire. Gods and Goddess have the power

How are women portrayed in our time in society? Women in current times are portrayed as the home lady and the one who takes care of children and are not ones who show strength and power. The women in The Odyssey show otherwise. Odysseus,the king of Ithaca, lives through many moments where women in the story are very powerful, controlling and, smart. Athena, The Sirens, and Penelope are female characters in the Odyssey, show many ways that women were portrayed in Ancient Greece and how it is different from current day portrayal of women. Penelope, wife of Odysseus, shows that she is very smart. Athena, the god of peace and wisdom, shows that she is very powerful, and the mermaids, also known as

Nearly every myth has a central theme, whether it be finding honor, reclaiming the thrown, how the earth was created or finding ones’ true purpose. Hospitality was a very important value in some myths. Xenia is the ancient Greek concept of hospitality. The rituals of hospitality created and expressed a relationship between the guest and host both in material benefits as well as non-material ones. Now depending on the area and time of the myth, the laws of hospitality has changed, but overall it remains the same. Hospitality allowed people to be a guest is someone else’s home with no fear of conflict or violence. A well-known myth from Greek

Far removed from our individualistic society today is the ancient Greece portrayed in The Odyssey, by Homer, where hospitality and good-will are a given in the lives of decent, moral people. As commanded by Zeus himself, those who wish the favor of the Gods must welcome foreign and domestic visitors with hospitality. The term developed to describe this concept is the Latin, xenia or "guest-friendship". "In ancient Greek literature, forms of the word xenia (ξείνία), are fairly common: Homer 's two books, for example, contain about one hundred and eighty instances. The root word generally relates to ideas around codes of hospitality, but depending on the context, xenos (ξένος), may be translated as host, guest, friend, foreigner, stranger

Far removed from our individualistic society today is the ancient Greece portrayed in The Odyssey, by Homer, where hospitality and good will are the way of things. As decreed by Zeus himself, those who wish the favor of the Gods must welcome foreign and domestic with hospitality. A man was supposed to offer the best of his food, his home, and his knowledge before ever asking for his guest’s name or why he was there. There is a sense that those of high status are the main givers of hospitality, but they are not the only ones commanded to offer hospitality. Homer emphasizes hospitality from everyone during Telemachus’ and Odysseus’ journeys, using a man’s xenos, host/guest relationships, with his guest to infer his integrity and character.

Ancient Greek concept of hospitality was very important to the characters of the Odyssey. Some examples include, Penelope’s treatment of the suitors and how she had to be hospitable and could not make them leave, throughout the entire book. Of course, the sitors abuse her hospitality

The side of the war that I have decided to fight for would be Troy. Even though I know how this ends, my heart still aches for Paris and Helen. Aphrodite promised Paris the most stunning girl in the world, but she fell short on her promise when Paris had to kidnap Helen, a married woman. On the other hand, I feel horrible about a young, beautiful girl’s life being wasted by having to marry a guy like Menelaus. She could have done great things with her life. Otherwise, I would like to fight for them because I do not agree with what Odysseus and his men did to the Trojans. Defeating your adversary in a war is typical, but completely wiping out everybody in Troy is just unethical. I would prefer to just fight for what beleive in and be faithful

Hospitality was deeply embedded in ancient Greek culture. Hospitality was very important and seen as a code of conduct. The term used to describe the concept of Ancient Greek hospitality was xenia. Xenia is basically the generosity and courtesy shown to guests, strangers, or those far from home. Xenia consists of two rules. The first rule is from host to guest, in which the host must be hospitable to the guest and provide basic needs (food, drink, and a bath). The host also has to hold all questioning until after the guest has stated his/her needs. The second rule is from guest to host, in which the guest has to be courteous to the host and not a burden. In ancient Greek culture, xenia was seen as a religious duty. The people believed

Female characters from various stories play a significant role in shaping its outcome. In the epic poem, The Illiad by Homer, women stir up further violence and conflict, the same thing they seem to be condemning. The epic poem takes place in the ninth year of a brutal war between the Archaens and the Trojans. The only way either side can make maximum further advancements is through the assistance of divine power. Gods and goddesses govern the fate of the battle, as their immortality and divine powers gives the upper hand to those whom side the gods are on.

‘The Odyssey,’ like other epic poems, is patriarchally centered. The poem is focused on “godlike” Odysseus and his laborious journey home (Homer, p. 334). In Ancient Greece, when Homer wrote this, women were commonly viewed as part of the oikos (household) headed by the male kyrios (master). They were expected to be submissive, domestic, and viewed as property. This raises an important question in the context of this epic: are women only secondary characters that blindly follow the decisions of their male counterparts, parallel to their role at the time, or do they have the ability to make their decisions freely? Homer, a forward thinker for his time, allowed the reader to make this judgement by including two paradoxical characters: Penelope and Calypso. Penelope, the faithful wife of Odysseus, spends most of her time crying and longing for her husband. She is compliant and passive, never making a decision without her husband. Calypso, on the other hand, takes her sexuality into her own hands. She traps Odysseus in Ogygia and attempts to force herself on him, showing that she does not follow the rule of being an obedient woman. Through the inclusion of Penelope and Calypso, Homer is able to address the view of women in typical epic poems by both accepting and challenging it in order to redefine what is expected of the epic tradition.

In an epic poem filled with many mythological creatures, supernatural events, and interference in the lives of mortals by the gods, perhaps the most farfetched idea in the Odyssey are the strong and independent females presented. These women defied the gender norms of their time, by being presented and strong and independent spirits who challenge a patriarchal society. These roles are then divided even further between mortal women and goddesses, who differ in their influence to the story and their expected behavior. Although, these heroines play a large role in the story’s narrative, the women in the Odyssey are confined to limited plot devices they can play. These roles are best viewed in the three overarching types of women presented in the poem, women who are disloyal, those who manipulate men though sexuality, and those who are virtuous and well respected.