"Easy for them, all right, they feed on another’s goods and go scot-free" (p.7) This quote shows Telemachus ' rage over his mother 's suitors taking advantage of the Gods requirement for xenia. In The Odyssey, Homer uses an epic poem to convey lessons about ancient Greek culture. One of the main themes in this epic is the importance of xenia, or hospitality. In this essay, I want address good and bad examples of xenia, and show its great importance in the plot. During Odysseus ' great journey, xenia constantly saves him from hardship, and in the end helps him to get home. The first instance I would like to cover is both sides of the suitors ' stay in Odysseus house. Other than xenia 's affects on Odysseus himself, this is the most influential
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The meeting of the Princess, Nausicaa, and Odysseus is prompted by Athena initially, but turns into one of the greatest displays of xenia in The Odyssey. " 'Stranger, ' the white-armed princess answered staunchly, 'friend you are hardly a wicked man, and no fool I 'd say --- It 's Olympian Zeus himself who hands our fortunes out, each of us in turn, to the good and the bad, however Zeus prefers... He gave you pain it seems" (p. 99). This quotes shows that though Nausicaa is young and knows nothing about this man, she has been brought up to take in strangers and treat them with …show more content…
This is an example of good xenia on both sides of the situation. After discovering that he is in Ithaca, Odysseus goes directly to his swineherd Eumaeus, as he is told of the swineherd 's loyalty (Book 14). When Odysseus approaches his servant 's hut, the guard dogs set off towards him, but Eumaeus calls them off. Immediately, the swineherd invites a disguised Odysseus into his home, for shelter, food, and wine. Eumaeus gives his bedding as a seat and blesses the stranger. Then he sums of his responsibility to the guest and how he will continue to display xenia to honor the Gods: "It 's wrong, my friend, to send any stranger packing. Every stranger and beggar comes from Zeus, and whatever scrap they get from us, they find welcome" (p.
The meeting of the Princess, Nausicaa, and Odysseus is prompted by Athena initially, but turns into one of the greatest displays of xenia in The Odyssey. " 'Stranger, ' the white-armed princess answered staunchly, 'friend you are hardly a wicked man, and no fool I 'd say --- It 's Olympian Zeus himself who hands our fortunes out, each of us in turn, to the good and the bad, however Zeus prefers... He gave you pain it seems" (p. 99). This quotes shows that though Nausicaa is young and knows nothing about this man, she has been brought up to take in strangers and treat them with …show more content…
This is an example of good xenia on both sides of the situation. After discovering that he is in Ithaca, Odysseus goes directly to his swineherd Eumaeus, as he is told of the swineherd 's loyalty (Book 14). When Odysseus approaches his servant 's hut, the guard dogs set off towards him, but Eumaeus calls them off. Immediately, the swineherd invites a disguised Odysseus into his home, for shelter, food, and wine. Eumaeus gives his bedding as a seat and blesses the stranger. Then he sums of his responsibility to the guest and how he will continue to display xenia to honor the Gods: "It 's wrong, my friend, to send any stranger packing. Every stranger and beggar comes from Zeus, and whatever scrap they get from us, they find welcome" (p.