It was because of those generous, hospitable, and god fearing characters that Odysseus was able to survive throughout his rough journey on the wrathful sea. In her writing “What Pains are Fated to Fill Your Cup: The Role of Food, Drink, and Xenia in the Homeric Epics”, Amanda Urban states, “ This crucial moral principle was often exercised through the sharing of feasts, wine, and gifts between guests and their hosts. It is unsurprising then that The Odyssey is rich with examples: Odysseus, the wandering man, must rely on Xenia for food and shelter for the majority of his journey”(pg.2). Amanda mentions that food and trading gifts were one of the major components of the religious ritual. Sacrifices such as food were offered to the strangers to impress the gods, seeking a shower of blessing upon
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The land of the Phaeacians was his last stop and from there he created a great relationship with the king and made a friend. Their ship succeeded in taking Odysseus home safe with plenty of valuable gifts. If Odysseus never reached home then Penelope would’ve ended up marrying one of the suitors and perhaps Telemachus would’ve been dead or separated from his mother by the new king. The whole story would’ve changed. Therefore, hospitality plays a significant role in shaping the epic.
Although many characters in the Odyssey showed respect to Zeus by following the law of Xenia, in contrast, there were people and creatures who violated the laws as well and the punishments were catastrophic. There’s no doubt that majority of the people who practiced Xenia didn’t fear the gods. The most obvious violation of the law is demonstrated by the action of Polyphemus, the son of Poseidon on the land of Cyclops also known as Sicily. Polyphemus was a boastful freak of nature who believed that he was more powerful than the god and had no respect for Zeus. He says, “You’re dumb,
The land of the Phaeacians was his last stop and from there he created a great relationship with the king and made a friend. Their ship succeeded in taking Odysseus home safe with plenty of valuable gifts. If Odysseus never reached home then Penelope would’ve ended up marrying one of the suitors and perhaps Telemachus would’ve been dead or separated from his mother by the new king. The whole story would’ve changed. Therefore, hospitality plays a significant role in shaping the epic.
Although many characters in the Odyssey showed respect to Zeus by following the law of Xenia, in contrast, there were people and creatures who violated the laws as well and the punishments were catastrophic. There’s no doubt that majority of the people who practiced Xenia didn’t fear the gods. The most obvious violation of the law is demonstrated by the action of Polyphemus, the son of Poseidon on the land of Cyclops also known as Sicily. Polyphemus was a boastful freak of nature who believed that he was more powerful than the god and had no respect for Zeus. He says, “You’re dumb,