Xenia (Greek) - in The Odyssey

In The Odyssey

Xenia is an important theme in Homer's The Odyssey. Every household in the epic is seen alongside xenia. Odysseus's house is inhabited by suitors with demands beyond the bounds of xenia. Menelaus and Nestor's houses are seen when Telemachus visits. There are many other households observed in the epic, including those of Circe, Calypso, and the Phaeacians. The Phaeacians, and in particular Nausicaa, were famed for their immaculate application of xenia, as the princess and her maids offered to bathe Odysseus and then led him to the palace to be fed and entertained. It should be noted, however, that because Odysseus was indirectly responsible for Poseidon's sinking one of their ships, the Phaeacians resolved to be less trusting of subsequent travelers. However, Polyphemus showed lack of xenia despite Odysseus reminding him of it and refused to honor the traveler's requests, instead eating some of Odysseus' men. The suitor Ctesippus mocks xenia by hurling a hoof, disguised as a 'gift' at Odysseus. When he is speared by Philoetius, the cowherd claims this avenges his disrespect. Book 3 Lines 70-80 also show xenia shown to Odysseus' son, Telemachus. Book 1 has Telemachus showing xenia to the disguised Athene. Eumaeus the Swineherd shows xenia to the disguised Odysseus, claiming guests come under the protection of Zeus. When the leading suitor Antinous throws a stool at the disguised Odysseus and strikes his right shoulder as he asks for food, even the other suitors are worried, saying Antinous is 'doomed' if the stranger is a disguised god. As well as this, whenever Homer describes the details of 'xenia' he uses the same formula every time, for example the maid pouring wine into the gold cups, etc.