Xenia In The Odyssey Analysis

Xenia, is an old Greek concept that encompasses generosity to those who are far from home. Xenia is present throughout The Odyssey, as Ody travels to many places and meets many people that have different levels of hospitality towards guests. Ody receives help and presents from many of the different kings, but also is treated very rudely by many of monsters. In Book 9 of The Odyssey, Ody travels to the Island of Cyclops’s and finds himself in a cave filled with cheese and milk. Soon after he and his men devour the cheese, the resident of the cave reveals himself to Ody, a gigantic one-eyed cyclops named Polyphemus. Relying on xenia, Ody tells the cyclops, “we’re at your knees in hopes of a warm welcome, even a guest-gift, the sort that hosts
give strangers. That’s the custom.” (Homer). Appalled by the audacity of Ody’s demand, Polyphemus instead grabs two of Ody’s men and eats them. Towards the end of Book 9, Ody pays Polyphemus back for the 6 men in total that Poly eats, by blinding him with a stake and escaping the island unscathed. After 20 years at sea, Ody makes one last stop before returning to Ithaca. Here on Phaeacia, King Alcinous respects xenia and gives Ody the welcome that he deserves. Ody first arrives to King Alcinous’s palace and is greeted with a lavish feast, only asked for his story in return. After hearing the hardships of Odysseus’s long journey, Alcinous knows that the least he can do is honor xenia, and shower Ody with gifts and a safe passage home. “They hurried down to the ship with handsome bronze gifts, and striding along the decks, the ardent King Alcinous stowed them under the benches” (Homer). Finally, due to King Alcinous’s xenia, Odysseus returns home after 20 years.