How did Odysseus break the rules of xenia?
One of the wildest examples of bad xenia in The Odyssey occurs on the island of the Cyclopes. Upon arriving on the island, Odysseus and his crew slaughter and eat many of the goats, enter the home of Polyphemus while he is away, and begin eating his cheese.
Did Odysseus actions violate laws of xenia?
Additionally, it is made clear that Odysseus broke the law of xenia by stealing and blinding the host.
Who violates xenia in The Odyssey?
Paris violated xenia when he was a guest in Menelaus' house; Odysseus searches for xenia in the sense of "hospitable reception" in a wide variety of situations' in Bks.
How did Odysseus and his men break the laws of hospitality by firsts?
Similarly, Odysseus and his men cause havoc wherever they break hospitality -- eating the Cattle of the Sun, invading the Cyclops' home -- and suffer wherever they are treated inhospitably.
Does Odysseus violate xenia or not in his encounter with the Kyklops?
cave anyway), Odysseus is breaking the xenia laws. He is being the ultimate bad guest. In fact, Odysseus is doubly culpable in this case as, in addition to blinding his 'host', he also has the temerity to steal his cheese! Likewise, Odysseus shows very poor hospitality by slaughtering the 108 suitors in his own house.
How do suitors break the laws of xenia?
These men, referred to as suitors, conduct themselves in violation of Ancient Greece's laws regarding hospitality, also known as xenia—they eat his food, kill his animals, and behave rudely to Odysseus's servants and new guests.
How did the suitors break the law of hospitality?
The reason behind this is the fact that the suitors themselves violated the guest-host relationship by not treating the host with respect and not following through with the host's wishes, as such, this justifies their slaying.
How did the suitors of Penelope violate the sacred laws of xenia?
Penelope's suitors, in sharp contrast, eat her out of house and home, abusing her servants and sleeping with her maids. Odysseus' men also prove to be bad guests when they devour the sacred cattle of the sun god.
Who did not show hospitality in The Odyssey?
One of the first instances of this is when Odysseus meets Polyphemus of the Cyclops' Island. Polyphemus does not immediately show hospitality upon meeting Odysseus and his crew, so Odysseus asks for it.
What are the rules of xenia?
Xenia consists of two basic rules:The respect from host to guest. The host must be hospitable to the guest and provide him/her with food and drink and a bath, if required. ... The respect from guest to host. The guest must be courteous to the host and not be a burden.
Which food makes Odysseus men forget their quest and their homeland?
The Lotus-Eaters The lotus flowers they had eaten were narcotic in nature and made them forget all about their family and homeland. These men wanted to stay on this land and eat lotus for the rest of their lives. They refused to go home. Desperately, Odysseus and some other men had to carry them back to the ship.
What are some of the rules of hospitality shown in The Odyssey?
Under the rules of hospitality, men would be expected to host visitors, providing them with food, a bath, friendship gifts, the promise of safety for the night, and safe escorted travel to their next destination.
How did the suitors of Penelope violate the sacred laws of xenia?
Penelope's suitors, in sharp contrast, eat her out of house and home, abusing her servants and sleeping with her maids. Odysseus' men also prove to be bad guests when they devour the sacred cattle of the sun god.
Where is xenia shown in The Odyssey?
Xenia is presented in books 1-4 of The Odyssey through the hospitality Telemachus gives and receives, and the response to their hospitality.
How important is xenia in The Odyssey?
The Odyssey Xenia Analysis Xenia is a key value in the The Odyssey by Homer, as the book focuses on when it is offered and when there is a lack of it in the places Odysseus visited. Xenia is the Greek concept of hospitality, generosity towards travelers who are far from home and is very important to the Greeks.
Where is hospitality shown in The Odyssey?
The true exemplars of good hospitality in The Odyssey are the Phaeacians who host Odysseus when he washes ashore near their town.
Why is the Greek practice of xenia important?
The Ancient Greek practice of “xenia” is highly valued, and in Homer’s The Odyssey the practice of “xenia” is vital to receive good one’s fate. For example, the cyclops, Polyphemus, does not value “xenia”, so instead of welcoming Odysseus and his crew, the monster decides to eat the men. As a consequence, he lost his sight, which was primarily from Polyphemus 's blatant disregard for the Ancient Greek practice. His fate could have easily been avoided if he had not eaten his visitors.
What are Odysseus's strengths?
Odysseus possess the character strengths of loyalty and compassion because he cares deeply for his comrades. For example, Odysseus proves his loyalty to his dead comrade Elpenor when he travels back to the island of Aeaea, “We cut logs in haste and out on the islands jutting headland his funeral rights in sorrow, streaming tears” (12.10-12). Odysseus feels a deep sense of loyalty towards his comrades as shown when he immediately returns to bury his friend. He exhibits compassion and loyalty towards his trusted friends throughout the book; he always puts the safety and well-being of his men first. Furthermore, Odysseus portrays his compassion and loyalty when after gaining Circe’s trust, he demands, “If you really want me to eat and drink, set
What is the purpose of Xenia?
The purpose of this essay is to inform about the use of xenia. Xenia is the use of hospitality and friendliness when a person comes for shelter, food or drinks.To analyze uses of xenia we will have to use examples of personification, alliteration, simile and metaphor. In book 2 Homer shows that back then Greeks really respected the use of Xenia.
What is hospitality in Greek mythology?
In ancient greek mythology, hospitality is used as kind gesture to the the travelers who are coming from long distances. In the Odyssey hospitality was shown positively and negatively by the other gods towards Odysseus, his wife, and his son. As the sailors arrive to the islands along their journeys they expect to be treated with positive hospitality, but that is not always the case. In the Odyssey, the custom of hospitality is used, but there is times when negative hospitality causes some of his men to be killed and his positive hospitality gives his men the necessities.
What is the main character's job in The Odyssey?
Throughout the story “The Odyssey” by Homer Odysseus, the main character counters countless amounts of trouble. As king and leader it is his job to keep his men save and get the job done. Odysseus does whatever it takes to keep his men unharmed, and more importantly, alive. All his crew and him dream about is getting back to their homeland, but first they have to pass the obstacles. Odysseus demonstrates good leadership qualities by doing whatever it takes to get the job done, using his advanced cunning abilities to trick his enemy, and constantly saving his crew from dangers.
Is Xenia a good thing in the Odyssey?
Raquel Cacahua Ms. Caskey English 9 Honors 22 November 2016 Xenia is a good thing in the Odyssey In the epic poem, The Odyssey by Homer the reader learns the hospitality of xenia. There were two rules for Xenia in Ancient Greek. Xenia was to show politeness to visitors that have came to there home from other places. Back then, Xenia was needed when traveler were far from home and did not have a place to stay.
Why is Xenia important in Odysseus?
Xenia was actually the root cause of all the troubling situations Odysseus found himself in throughout The Odyssey. This is because the casus belli of the Trojan war, Paris ’ abduction of Helen, was a most serious breach of xenia etiquette.
Why is Odysseus held up?
He is held up in direct contrast to the blasphemous Suitors who are not only eating him out of house and home, but also show disrespect to the disguised Odysseus by throwing an animal hoof and a stool at him when he comes begging for food.
What was Odysseus' gift to Odysseus?
The giant, almost inoperable bow had, aptly, been a xenia gift to Odysseus from Iphitos. 107 more Suitors fall to sword, spear and bow. Thus blood pays for the dishonouring of host and household. The almighty Zeus finds a way to punish those who fail to show appropriate levels of honour and humility.
How many suitors did Odysseus slaughter?
Likewise, Odysseus shows very poor hospitality by slaughtering the 108 suitors in his own house. He also brandishes a sword on the nymph Circe when he and his men pay a visit to her island.
What does Odysseus do when he is beaten?
Having been beaten and abused by the Suitors, Odysseus picks up and manages to string a mighty bow. A bow so large and cumbersome that nobody but the hero himself could manage to wield it. The slaying of the Suitors. He takes aim and fires straight through the neck of the chief Suitor, Antinous.
What theme does the Odyssey use?
If your mother taught you say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, to not sit down until offered a chair, to bend over backwards to make guests feel welcome, and to always wipe your feet before before going in, then she might have picked up on the theme of xenia (hospitality) in The Odyssey.
What is Xenia a religious ritual?
However, it was more than merely a set of manners and social customs, but actually a religious ritual which placed demands both on hosts and guests.
What is the importance of Xenia in the Odyssey?
The Importance of Xenia in The Odyssey and it’s Consequences One of the most important themes in The Odyssey is the concept of xenia, which is the old Greek word for hospitality. In modern times, hospitality is something we rarely think of, and the first thing that comes to mind is the hotel industry, but in ancient Greece, xenia was not about hotels, or just about etiquette, it was a way of life with many benefits in a world that was still mostly savage.Xenia was more than just being polite to strangers.
What makes Xenia's behavior bad?
But what makes their behavior bad xenia is the way they went about it. They imposed themselves on the household, eating all the livestock, consuming the wine, insulting their host, Telemakhos, and refused to leave when their presence and intentions toward Penelope were obviously not wanted.
What was the significance of Xenia in Greek civilization?
In the end, all of the suitors and the disloyal servants died.Bad xenia met with a bad end. The Importance of Xenia in Greek Civilization The custom of xenia was, to the Greeks, the mark of civilization in the late 12th century BC, a time when most of the world was still savage. This is evident by Odysseus’ statement: “Now, by my life, mankind again! But who? Savages, are they, strangers to courtesy? Or gentle folk, who know and fear the gods? ” (Homer 102). This was his reaction when he woke up on the island of Skheria and heard Nausikaa and her maids screaming while playing with their ball.
What does Penelope tell the suitors?
Penelope tells the suitors in the hall, “Others who go to court a gentlewoman, daughter of a rich house, if they are rivals, bring their own beeves and sheep along; her friends ought to be feasted, gifts are due to her; would any dare to live at her expense? ” (Homer 325) She also later reminds them, “suitors indeed, you commandeered this house” (Homer 393). The suitors even made plans to kill Telemakhos, to get him out of the way so they could further their goal of obtaining Penelope’s hand and dividing the spoils of the house.Since Odysseus was, in fact, still alive and master of his house, all of these offenses of xenia can be seen as bad xenia against Odysseus. Also, when Odysseus returned home, though in disguise, the suitors continued to show bad xenia. Antinoos was particularly vicious to him. As he made his rounds of the suitors’ tables, in the guise of a beggar asking for hand-outs, Antinoos threatened him with violence, mocked him by calling him a pest, and then threw a stool at his back that hit him.
Why is Odysseus thankful for Eumaios?
Eumaios’ hospitality, and later his help, enables Odysseus to reclaim his house and get rid of the suitors.Because Eumaios treated Odysseus to good xenia, and proved his continuing loyalty to him during the conversations they had while Odysseus was in the disguise of a beggar, his life was spared when Odysseus slaughtered the servants who had turned against him and against his house. Bad Xenia: Odysseus and The Suitors One of the most obvious examples of bad xenia in The Odyssey is the treatment of Odysseus’ house, and Odysseus himself, by the suitors who, in his absence, have come to his home seeking his wife’s hand in marriage.The fact that they came to his house, seeking Penelope’s hand in marriage, isn’t necessarily wrong since Odysseus had been gone for nearly 15 years when the suitors showed up.
Why was the Odyssey important to the Greeks?
The Odyssey, as well as being an entertaining story, reinforced the ideals of consideration among the Greeks who heard it.
What did the maids do to the beggars?
She called back her maids and reminded them that “Strangers and beggars come from Zeus: a small gift, then, is friendly” (Homer 105).She then directed her maids to take him to the river and bathe him, providing him with oils to rub onto his skin. She provided him with fresh clothing, taken from the laundry she’d washed in the river. She also offered him food and drink. These are all examples of good xenia to a stranger. She took care of his needs and then, afterwards, she even offered a parting gift: information about how he could accomplish his task of getting home.
What is Xenia in the Odyssey?
In the Odyssey, Xenia is also shown to be one of the hallmarks of a civilised society, allowing us to judge the societies that Odysseus visits by their attitudes to xenia. For example, the Cyclopes are well informed about Xenia, yet disregard it because they have no fear of the God’s retribution.
Why did Odysseus need Xenia?
Without Xenia, Odysseus wouldn’t have been able to return home to Penelope. Xenia was also a universal way for Homer to state character’s status and wealth in the Odyssey. As it was frowned upon for aristocrats to engage in trade or commerce, Xenia was one of the only ways for Homeric heroes to acquire wealth. All hosts are obligated to provide their guests with the best food, accommodation and comfort they can.
What is the relationship between Calypso and Odysseus?
Here we have an example of the guest-host relationship working well. Calypso is provided with a companion, even if it was not permanent, and Odysseus was provided with shelter, provisions, and protection for his men. In the end it proves to be a beneficial situation for them both. Xenia also provides a system of retribution in the Odyssey.
What are some examples of Xenia gifts?
For example, Menelaus’ guests are offered water from a golden jug into a silver basin and wine served in golden cups. The xenia gifts characters give are also a statement of wealth, as well as a way of acquiring wealth, for example, when Telemachus acquires a silver krater, a wedding dress, a golden cup and other elaborate gifts from his stay in Sparta. In the Odyssey, Xenia is also shown to be one of the hallmarks of a civilised society, allowing us to judge the societies that Odysseus visits by their attitudes to xenia.
Why did Xenia refuse to fight?
Xenia also explains why, during the battle of Troy, Glaucus and Diomedes refuse to fight: they discover their ancestors had a Xenia bond. Traveling in Homer’s time was much more extensive and lengthier than in modern times. The less advanced methods of transportation used in Homeric times, such as by boat or by foot, were much slower than modern forms of transportation. Because of this, many more nights were spent away from home in many different locations. Also, there were not hotels or inns where travellers could pay and stay the night.
What is the significance of Xenia in the Odyssey?
This statement proves that violence was an acceptable answer when a host was not gracious. It also shows how the Gods justified violence as a result of bad Xenia. Overall, Xenia is a majorly important theme in the Odyssey. Not only is it used as a literary device by Homer, as it provides an explanation for many aspects of the plot and provides ...
What are some examples of poor Xenia?
An example of poor Xenia in the Odyssey is Penelope’s Suitors. The suitors steal and plunder Odysseus' hall, feast on his food, take his maids to bed and all the while, each trying to take Penelope's hand in marriage. When Odysseus returns, he knows all about the suitors, and schematically kills all of them with no mercy.
Why does Odysseus leave the competition?
He is a suitor who leaves before the competition because he foresees death and the return of Odysseus. He warns the other suitors but is laughed at.
Who was practicing Xenia?
Xenia was showed many times throughout the story. When Telemachous didn't send the suitors away even though they were destroying his house, he was practicing Xenia.
What does Nestor tell Telemachus about?
Nestor tells Telemachus about how Agamemnon's wife conspired with another man to kill him and rule in his place. What is the lesson to be learned from his story?