The Theme Of Hospitality In Homer's Odyssey

In ancient Greece, hospitality it is an unspoken rule of their culture. This theme of respect for both host and guest is carried throughout Homer’s The Odyssey. Hospitality was the glue that held Greece together, seeing as it (in retrospect) maintained order among the Greeks from different regions. The Greeks used the term “Xenia” as a way to describe the generosity or courtesy shown to strangers, no matter the condition, and creating a relationship between guest and host. It is postulated that there is a religious reason for this kindness, due to the fact, “ … in ancient Greece, it was believed that any stranger might be a god in disguise, checking up on mortals,” (Hospitality in Ancient Greek Culture). There were certain decorums that neither guest nor host was supposed to disobey. For instance, the host is not …show more content…
Though they had just recently met, Polyphemus quickly started to question Odysseus and his crew, saying, “‘Strangers,’ he said, ‘who are you? And where from? What brings you here by seaways- a fair traffic? Or are you wandering rogues, who cast your lives like dice, and ravage other folk by sea?’” (661) In Greek hospitality, it is considered rude to bother your guest with questions when you first meet them. As Odysseus and Polyphemus got into more depth in their conversation, the Cyclops found that Odysseus and his men were followers of Zeus. Polyphemus quickly became angry and without showing pity “dismembered them and made his meal, gaping and crunching like a mountain lion- everything: innards, flesh, and marrow bones,” (661). The Cyclops ate his guest out of rage, showing that Polyphemus was not the a vulgar character. For his punishment, Odysseus, with the help of his crew, blinded the Cyclops. Odysseus endures many other forms of hostility throughout the rest of his course, but one of the most interesting battles we see is when he returns to