Theme Of Xenia In Homer's Odyssey

We have all heard the phrase, “make yourself feel at home.” In Homeric times, this phrase was meant literally. Today, we have our own form of hospitality and although it may not be as extensive and serious as it is portrayed in the Odyssey, today’s hospitality is still relatable to those times. Hospitality was expected of all guest and host relationships. Xenia held both social and religious importance, as it was believed in ancient Greece that any person could actually be a god in disguise. In turn, xenia is a very important and prevalent major theme throughout Homer’s Odyssey. The custom of xenia to the Greeks meant a lot during a time when most of the world was still savage. This is evident by Odysseus’ statement, “Now, by my life, mankind