With the development of the Phaeacian characters, Xenia became a highly regarded and practiced tradition. For example, when Alcinous met Odysseus he had said, “This stranger, I do not know who he is . . .he pleads for passage, he begs we guarantee it . . . let us press on and grant him an escort” (8.30-36). Without even knowing who Odysseus is, Alcinous had offered Odysseus a way to get home and treated him with hospitality, proving that the Phaeacians follow Xenia. Another example was the Phaeacian elder who saw Odysseus on the ground and exclaimed, “There is no way, Alcinous. How indecent, look, our guest on the ground, in the ashes by the fire! . . . raise him up and seat the stranger now . . .” (7.189-192). The opposition that the Phaeacian
