When someone sneezes you are supposed to say bless you, it’s common courtesy and probably also reflex. This is similar to the way the Greeks show Xenia or the Greek influence of the gods in Homer’s epic poem Odyssey. The Greeks show these traits daily and do it without even thinking about it. This is shown time and time again throughout all of the Odyssey with praying and worshiping and dinner. Even the best of the best pray to the gods and invite strangers to their dinners including Odysseus and King Nestor.
King Nestor shows Xenia like hospitality to Telemachus in Book 3. Telemachus is riddled with fear as he enters Nestor’s court, but to his surprise, a warm welcome is called out towards him and Athena. “When they saw the strangers a hail …show more content…
The gods have great influence in Greek culture and if something, said god controls, happens, then they will know about it. Odysseus does this in Book 9 with Polyphemus and in Book 22 with the suitors. “How do you like that beating we gave you, you damned cannibal? Eater of guests under your roof! Zeus and the gods have paid you!” (477-480). Zeus and the gods seem to be on Odysseus’ side here, and this is probably because of the respect that Odysseus shows, but even more so the lack of respect shown by Polyphemus in the same book. “You are a ninny, or else you come from the other end of nowhere, telling me, mind the gods! We Cyclopes care not a whistle for your thundering Zeus or all the gods in bliss; we have more force by far” (264-266). Odysseus prays, asks, pleads, blesses, and loves the gods many a time in this poem, yet the first time we see Polyphemus talk about the gods he says he is far superior, and later in the poem Polyphemus takes a spear to the eye, probably not a coincidence. Flash forward to Book 12, Odysseus must make the shot of a lifetime killing the worst suitor of all, Antinous. “Now watch me hit a target that no man has hit before, if I can make this shot. Help me, Apollo” (1225-1226). Odysseus has already proven he is a good shot with a bow, when he shot an arrow through 12 axe socket rings, still he asks Apollo for help. Even if Odysseus could make the shot by himself, sharing the credit with the god of archery is still the way to go because it shows respect for the gods, showing the influence the god Apollo has, not only in that moment, but also for all future
King Nestor shows Xenia like hospitality to Telemachus in Book 3. Telemachus is riddled with fear as he enters Nestor’s court, but to his surprise, a warm welcome is called out towards him and Athena. “When they saw the strangers a hail …show more content…
The gods have great influence in Greek culture and if something, said god controls, happens, then they will know about it. Odysseus does this in Book 9 with Polyphemus and in Book 22 with the suitors. “How do you like that beating we gave you, you damned cannibal? Eater of guests under your roof! Zeus and the gods have paid you!” (477-480). Zeus and the gods seem to be on Odysseus’ side here, and this is probably because of the respect that Odysseus shows, but even more so the lack of respect shown by Polyphemus in the same book. “You are a ninny, or else you come from the other end of nowhere, telling me, mind the gods! We Cyclopes care not a whistle for your thundering Zeus or all the gods in bliss; we have more force by far” (264-266). Odysseus prays, asks, pleads, blesses, and loves the gods many a time in this poem, yet the first time we see Polyphemus talk about the gods he says he is far superior, and later in the poem Polyphemus takes a spear to the eye, probably not a coincidence. Flash forward to Book 12, Odysseus must make the shot of a lifetime killing the worst suitor of all, Antinous. “Now watch me hit a target that no man has hit before, if I can make this shot. Help me, Apollo” (1225-1226). Odysseus has already proven he is a good shot with a bow, when he shot an arrow through 12 axe socket rings, still he asks Apollo for help. Even if Odysseus could make the shot by himself, sharing the credit with the god of archery is still the way to go because it shows respect for the gods, showing the influence the god Apollo has, not only in that moment, but also for all future