The Role Of Hospitality In The Odyssey

In many societies, hospitality was a way of life. In The Odyssey, hospitality was the generous act of allowing guest to stay who have come across their land. In Greek culture, it was a very important aspect of their lives. Xenia, the relationship between host and guest, is shown through hospitable and inhospitable actions. Traveling in these days were difficult because travelers would usually travel by foot or boat, making the trip longer. Travelers had to rely on people to open up their home. When traveling to unknown lands, they needed people to be hospital to provide food, shelter, clothing and protection. Traveling to faraway lands was made possible through the hospitable actions of those who accept the travelers into their homes and provid food, protection and shelter. …show more content…
In The Odyssey, Odysseus and his men traveled for years and were welcomed, feasted and were provided with a place to stay. Along with the shelter, protection needs to be provided as well. Odysseus and his men experience some inhospitable actions when they come across the cyclops. They entered Polyphemus cave and the crew try to steal his cheese but Odysseus doesn’t allow them. They come across the giant cyclopes who reached out towards the men and snatched two, smashing them on the ground, knocking them dead with their brains gushed out all over, soaking the floor with blood, ripping them limb from limb and devours them (308). This is not protection, it is destruction and insecurity. The cyclops continues to be inhospitable by saying, “Nobody? I’ll eat Nobody last of all his friends- I’ll eat the others first! That’s my gift to you! (310), continuing to threaten Odysseus and his men by eating them. Xenia was violated when the men tried to steal and when Polyphemus ate Odysseus men. Protection was not provided in this case, but there were other instances where Odysseus and his men were provided