Xenia in The Odyssey: Manners Were Mandatory in Ancient Greece
The importance of Xenia in The Odyssey is no surprise to anyone familiar with ancient Greek culture. In life and literature, the Greeks considered xenia a moral obligation and an inviolable rule in civilized life.
So, what exactly is xenia, and why is it so crucial to Homer’s great work, The Odyssey? Read on to find out!
What Is Xenia in The Odyssey? The Sacred Ritual of Friendship
In The Odyssey and the lives of the ancient Greeks, “xenia” is the Greek word for hospitality. It mandated respect and generosity for any visitor, whether a friend, a guest (meaning a Greek of no relation), or a foreigner (meaning anyone of non-Greek origin). It is essential to treat friends well, but it should be equally important to show the same level of courtesy to a stranger. Indeed, the term “xenia” originates from the word “xenos,” which means “stranger.”
While the basic xenia definition is hospitality, the Greeks understood the concept more deeply. True xenia established a formal relationship where both the host and the guest receive some sort of benefit. Tangible items might include shelter, food, and gifts, and intangible benefits might be favors, protection, and polite, modest behavior. Even a visitor with no gifts to exchange could show respect by not overeating at the host’s table, giving sincere thanks, sharing stories and news, and expanding the host’s good reputation by telling others of the host’s generosity and kindness.
One incentive for treating strangers with respect was the possibility that the stranger was a god in disguise. Often, Greek myths used a theme of “theoxenia,” in which a host extended kindness and hospitality to a humble stranger.
The guest is revealed to be a god who rewards the host’s generosity. Though the moral is to treat every guest as a disguised god, the intent is to be a generous host to every guest, regardless of social status.
Why Did Homer Use the Concept of Xenia in The Odyssey?
Homer often used xenia’s concept within The Odyssey because ancient Greek hospitality was such a well-known concept. Showing proper xenia in ancient Greece was universally accepted as a sign of virtue or righteousness.
Similarly, those characters who behaved disrespectfully as hosts or guests were viewed with disdain. Using xenia, Homer and the other poets could quickly draw a line between the heroes and the villains in the story.
Studying The Odyssey shows Homer’s formulaic approach to xenia, which often helps drive the plot forward.
According to Homer, these are the ritual stages of xenia:
- The guest waits humbly at the door.
- The host welcomes the guest and offers the best seat in the house.
- The host gives the guest a feast, or at least the best meal possible, given the host’s resources.
- The host questions the guest, and the guest responds.
- Some sort of entertainment occurs.
- The guest receives a bath, fresh clothes, and a bed. (When the guest is travel-worn, this may happen earlier in the sequence.)
- The host and guest exchange some sort of gift (tangible or intangible).
- The host or guest provides a blessing, an omen, or a prophecy foreshadowing the plot.
- The host provides or enables the guest’s safe passage.
One may note that guests receive a chance to rest and eat before answering any questions or revealing their identity. This plot device is significant in The Odyssey because it allows Odysseus to enter his house as a stranger. He can remain anonymous while he observes the state of the house and determines what actions are necessary to reclaim his rightful place.
What Are Some Proper Examples of Xenia in The Odyssey?
Since The Odyssey is about a decade of travel, Homer has many opportunities to dramatize the guest-host relationship. Several characters in The Odyssey generously perform all the required steps of xenia and are therefore considered moral and civilized. Similarly, Odysseus and his men have many opportunities to demonstrate the guests’ expected behavior in the ritual of hospitality. Most of the time, the host who exhibits proper xenia receives good treatment from the guests.
Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, is the first character in the Odyssey to show proper xenia, which is an example of theoxenia. The Greek goddess Athena disguises herself as Mentes, lord of the Taphians, and appears at the home of Odysseus. Though Telemachus is distracted by his mother Penelope’s rowdy suitors, he sees “Mentes” at the gate and rushes forward to see his guest’s every desire personally. Athena, still in disguise, rewards his hospitality by confirming that Odysseus is still alive and being held captive, but he will return home.
The princess Nausicaa of the Phaeacians people displays good xenia despite a possible personal threat. As she and her maids are washing clothes at the beach, the shipwrecked Odysseus, filthy and naked, appears before them to respectfully ask for aid. The maids scream and flee, but Nausicaa stands her ground and declares that Odysseus will receive everything he needs. She reminds her maids that “every beggar and stranger comes from Zeus.”
Arguably, the most endearing and sincere demonstration of xenia is that of Odysseus’ faithful swineherd, Eumaeus. Disguised as a disheveled older man, then Odysseus appears at Eumaeus’ cottage, Eumaeus rushes forth to rescue him from the guard dogs and bring him inside. Though Eumaeus has little, he offers Odysseus everything he has, including his bed and one of his pigs, for a feast. The next day, Eumaeus pleads with Odysseus not to beg in the town but to stay with him as long as he likes.
Are There Also Demonstrations of Bad Xenia in The Odyssey?
Homer’s lessons about proper xenia are brought into clearer focus by the examples of bad xenia within the text. He also shows the consequences of bad xenia by punishing those who act as ungracious hosts or guests. Some, like the Phaeacians, display poor xenia out of ignorance, being unfamiliar with the Greek expectations and wary of strangers. Others, like Polyphemus and Penelope’s suitors, are well aware of the proper protocols and choose to ignore them.
While Nausicaa treated Odysseus generously, the rest of the Phaeacians exhibited xenia inconsistently. King Alcinous and his court do indeed offer Odysseus food, clothing, entertainment, gifts, and safe passage, but the islanders lack the Greek flair for hospitality and easiness around strangers. Some of their remarks to Odysseus seem too familiar or common, and their jibes during the festive games seem downright rude. Still, their intentions were good, and their failures in xenia pale compared to other characters in the epic.
In The Odyssey, the award goes for worst guests to Penelope’s 108 suitors. Eager to replace Odysseus, these young local men loiter unnecessarily for years at his house, gorge on his food and wine, harass his servants, pester his wife, and threaten to kill his son, Telemachus. When Odysseus appears in his beggar disguise, the suitors throw furniture and an ox’s hoof at him. By the end of the epic, none of the rowdy suitors is left alive.
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.
When Polyphemus returns home, he promptly imprisons them and devours several of the crew. After blinding the giant, Odysseus and his remaining men steal some of Polyphemus’ sheep as they escape. Not surprisingly, Polyphemus, the son of the sea god, hurls a curse rather than a blessing.
Does Odysseus Display Good or Bad Xenia During His Travels?
Odysseus displays both good and bad xenia during his ten years of trying to get home. Though Odysseus is a civilized, honorable man, he is quick to respond in kind when someone mistreats him. One might forgive Odysseus’ actions by saying he was not the first or worst to stray from proper xenia. Still, some scholars would argue that “the other guy started it” as a defense seems in itself a bit childish and inhospitable.
Odysseus’s careful treatment of Nausicaa shows how one might show good xenia by breaking its rituals. When he sees the princess and her maids on the beach, the usual protocol might be to throw himself at his host’s feet, possibly touching or embracing the host’s knees in supplication for aid.
However, Odysseus is aware that he is a large, filthy, naked man, and the princess is likely a virgin. He keeps a careful distance, covers himself as best he can, and uses gentle and flattering words.
In contrast, Odysseus’ treatment of Polyphemus begins badly and gets steadily worse. Though Odysseus thinks of bringing a skin of wine as a gift, he and his men boldly enter Polyphemus’ abode without welcome and help themselves. Once Polyphemus declares that he has no intention of following xenia, Odysseus has no qualms in ridiculing and tricking the Cyclops, injuring him and making him look foolish.
Once Odysseus finally returns to his own home, he plays guest and host simultaneously. In his disguise, he shows exemplary xenia, despite the barbaric behavior of the suitors. When he reveals himself as the master of the house, his first act as host is to kill all of the suitors. Though technically this is a horrendous violation of xenia, this was undoubtedly a necessary and well-deserved punishment.
Conclusion
Xenia plays a significant role in The Odyssey, which shows how vital xenia was in ancient Greek society.
Here are a few things to remember:
- Xenia is the Greek word for the sacred rituals of hospitality.
- The word “xenia” comes from the Greek word “xenos,” meaning “stranger.”
- Both the host and the guest were expected to treat each other respectfully.
- In The Odyssey, Homer used a formula with five stages of hospitality.
- Characters who demonstrate good xenia include Telemachus, Nausicaa, and Eumaeus.
- Characters who demonstrate bad xenia include the Suitors, the Phaeacians, and Polyphemus.
- Odysseus displayed both good and bad xenia, depending on the situation.
Since its creation, The Odyssey has proved to be both an entertaining story and a lesson in the important concept of xenia. Though the rituals of xenia have faded over time, The Odyssey can still remind modern readers how civilized persons should – and shouldn’t – behave.
