The reason Odysseus has taken so much time to reach back to Ithaca is associated with the greek term Xenia, but this element in literature called Xenia can also be helpful for one’s survival. The greek term Xenia refers to hospitality, meaning giving anyone respect with food, shelter or any need. To the Greeks at the time hospitality was a large way to show respect and to gain respect from neighbors and other civilians. Greeks believed the gods wanted them to show hospitality to anyone who showed up at their homes, they also believed that turning away someone and not providing them this hospitality would result in some form of punishment from the gods. Hospitality was important in the times of Homer. My idea is that …show more content…
Thus the value of hospitality was much appreciated and valued in the greek culture. Plus it was customary to accept all kinds of hospitality in the greek culture.
Hospitality is valued a lot in the greek culture. This can be seen in the book by the actions or words used in the book. These actions or words tell us a description of the greek culture and the importance of hospitality in the greek culture. There are many places in the Odyssey that shows many acts of hospitality. One of these instances where hospitality can be seen in book 5. In book 5 there has been a meeting assembled by the Zeus with other Olympian gods except Poseidon, they gather to talk about Odysseus's fate. They send messages to Calypso through the god of messenger Hermes. Meanwhile Odysseus is with Calypso. Calypso is likes Odysseus very much and tells him that she should just say here with her, but Odysseus turns down the offer because he is concerned with his wife and son. Instead Calypso offers Odysseus hospitality in forms of foods and even transportation to reach back home.. She even builds him a ship to reach home. This