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In book 9 of The Odyssey, Polyphemus does not partake in the concept of xenia. After Polyphemus had finished milking his animals, he caught a glimpse of Odysseus and his men who in turn asked for “a guest gift, the sort that hosts give strangers” (9.301-302). Odysseus demanded for such a thing to portray a brave leader in the eyes of his men since “the hearts inside [them] shook” when Polyphemus entered his home (9.288). The terse response that Polyphemus received led him to eat two men because he was not expecting such an insolent answer. Odysseus continues to advise Polyphemus to “ respect the gods…[or] Zeus will avenge their rights!” (9.303-305). This does not influence Polyphemus’s idea of xenia because he and his fellow cyclopes do not…
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Though one of the men insults him Telemachus remains calm and tells them one more time to leave his home by tomorrow.One of the suitor is wondering who was at dinner with them.He then asks Telemachus he responds saying that was an old family friend.He tells him that the guests name was Mentes.Telemaachus had already known that it was Athena.After talking with the suitors Telemachus headed toward his room to go to…
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The ancient Greek code of hospitality xenia influenced the epic in various ways. The Phaeacians welcome Odysseus under this code. “’In accordance with our [Phaeacian] custom, let us make the immediate arrangements to escort him [Odysseus]’” (95). They followed with their custom and later saw him back to Ithaca. This influences the end of the epic greatly without the Phaeacians generous interpretation of xenia Odysseus would never have reached home and taken revenge on the suitors. Xenia was shown again when Telemachus welcomed Athene into his when she wore the guise of Mentes he fed her and asked about his father. She told him to go inquire about Odysseus’s fate. He does this and learns of no accounts of his father’s death so he was more apt…
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Odysseus, coming home after twenty years, feels like in order to gain trust in his people and know whether they are still loyal to him, he tests his civilians. The first person he speaks to from Ithaka is his swineherd, who saved Odysseus from “four dogs like wolves”(Homer pg.247) that guarded his house and immediately tells him to “come to the cabin”(Homer pg.248). The usage of the simile describing the guard dogs that had attacked Odysseus emphasize the actions Eumaios took to make sure Odysseus was safe. The simile enhances the fact the Eumaios fiercely and willingly put his life before Odysseus’ although Odysseus appeared as a stranger in the woods. This shows that hospitality doesn't just come in forms of giving food and welcoming to their household, but also the safety of the guests who appear at households. The alliteration Eumaios stated of coming to his cabin show the friendliness and overall kind person Eumaios is. The specific word choice of “come to the cabin” use simple, short syllable words. Because of the simplicity of the phrase, it is as if Odysseus is already a friend of Eumaios, although he is a stranger in appearance. This enhances the fact that Eumaios is offering his place as almost a second home to…
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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…
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“Tell your squires to mix some more wine so that we can make a fresh libation, to Zeus the Thunderer, patron of suppliants, who deserve respect. And let the housekeeper give him (Odysseus) a meal from all she has available.” Here we see authentic hospitality and civilized behaviour towards a stranger they have just met. They are showing respect to the Gods by preparing a fresh libation for them to wish for goodness and hope for this weary traveller. They show that the Gods are a very important part of their lifestyle and that they do not think that they are better than the Gods in any way. “I wish- by Zeus, and Athene and Poseidon….” These people are believers of the Gods and wish for nothing more than to serve and please…
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Eumaios exemplifies the qualities an excellent host should retain. When Odysseus, convincingly disguised as a poor, rugged beggar by Athena, comes to the humble abode of the swineherd, Eumaios tells his men to “bring in [their] best pig for a stranger’s dinner. A feast…
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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…
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Citizens of Ithaca greet their guest and provide them food and place to stay. This idea is however misused by suitors who come in Ithaca after few years. They bring sheep’s and goats to Ithaca and greet the queen by giving gifts to her. They do not leave Ithaca until Penelope doesn’t choose one of the suitors and marry. Suitors violate the idea of guest host relationship by seducing women’s and drinking liquor in Ithaca. The community of Ithaca could not take any decision until the king returns and were not able to throw the suitors from Ithaca. Suitors also ordered Eurycleia to serve them every time to make food for them. Eurcyleia does complain to the Queen about their behavior but she ignores…
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In the life of Odysseus or Telemachus, the traveling that they did was brutal and with many of the different civilizations being so far apart, the hospitality helped make the traveling not so bad. “Dear guest, will this offend you, if I speak”(Book 1, 195)? Telemachus has such respect for guests that he even asked Athena if he could speak. The poem is started off by Telemachus noticing Athena arriving at the doors of his house where he greets her with food and gifts even though Athena is just a stranger to him. What makes this so fascinating is that Telemachus is just a young man who probably did not get his hospitality from Odysseus. Telemachus either inherited politeness or learned from Penelope before she started to feel all melancholy of Odysseus being gone. Athena loves what Telemachus has done for her and this hospitality gives Athena more pride in wanting to help Telemachus and his journey to find Odysseus. Now in the land of Sparta, where Menelaus resides, Telemachus and Pisistratus are greeted to a feast. “Could we have made it home again-and Zeus give us no more hard roving!- if other men had never fed us, given us lodging? Bring these men to be our guests: unhitch their team”(Book 4 35-39)! Helen tells Menelaus that because of their past with receiving food from Zeus, she feels like…
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Treating guests with respect and generosity has always been a source of pride for hosts, as society has encouraged this way of thinking throughout history. In Homer’s, The Odyssey, the importance of this guest-host relationship becomes reinforced time and time again during Odysseus’ journey. When he finally makes it back home to Ithaca, Homer clearly illustrates for the reader how the guest host relationship holds paramount over everything else: “So you, old misery, seeing a god has led you here to me, don’t try to charm me now, don’t spellbind me with lies! Never for that will I respect you, treat you kindly; no, it’s my fear of Zeus, the god of guests, and because I pity you…” (Homer 313, 314). Immediately, Odysseus’ host, Eumaeus, detects…
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Unknowingly advised by Athena, Telemachus calls the assembly to complain about the wooers at his home and ask for a ship to sail in search for information concerning his father, or learn about his death. The young prince's requests are not met and Athena provides him with a ship and men. Telemachus is kindly received at Pylos by Nestor, who then sends him on his way to Sparta. There he…
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In The Odyssey an epic poem by Homer, Odysseus goes on a twenty year voyage which includes the Trojan War when a sea nymph named Kalypso holds Odysseus captive. During this trip Odysseus meets a lot of new people and when he meets these new people they treat him like he is family, this concept is known as hospitality. In this epic poem this theme is constantly shown by some of the main characters and other characters too. Most forms of hospitality are good but at times there is also bad hospitality shown. Both positive and negative examples of hospitality exist in The Odyssey; Homer uses both these examples to suggest that good hospitality shows loyalty and nobility to others while bad hospitality shows that that person does not care about…
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Homer’s The Odyssey is a tale about a man journeying home to his family while facing many trials along the way. Throughout the story, there are many themes that illustrated the Greek Society’s beliefs at the time. One of the most prominent themes is how the Greek Gods were portrayed throughout the story. Due to their significant aid to Odysseus’s endeavors, the Gods in Ancient Greek Society were revered as good and pure.…
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• Faithfulness and trust: Odysseus’s wife, who is trying to wait for him to return; the men on the voyage and their loyalty to each other and their leader.…
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