Free Essay on Homers Odyssey: Hospitality :: Homer Odyssey Essays

Hospitality in Homers Odyssey Hospitality Greek philoxenia literally know of strangers. Homer might have had such a definition in mind when he introduced the theme of hospitality to his epic poem the Odyssey. A multitude of reasons for the prominent position this theme plays, both in the Odyssey and possibly in Homers own society, be hinted at in the introductory books, often referred to as the Telemachy. Just two of these, namely the smart for news and the belief in divinity, are illustrated by the words and actions of the hosts Telemakhos and Nestor. The firstborn words the reader hears from young Telemakhos are those of greeting to an unknown visitor. seats the stranger in an elaborate throne to one side, providing finely worked implements, and acquiring generous portions of food and drink, Telemakhos displays the very soul of hospitality. Why? The poet states in take 1, line 167 he wished privacy to ask for news/about his father, bypast for years. The island of Ithaka and indeed the whole of Greece were composed of isolated pockets of civilization. Travel on the aleatory sea and over the mainlands mountainous terrain was no easy endeavour therefore news of the world by any means, even at the mouth of strangers, was welcomed and well-rewarded with hospitality. Nestors case is somewhat more entertaining. Arriving amidst a sacrificial feast to the god Posidon, Telemakhos and Athena-as-Mentor are greeted by a gathering of celebrants and invited by one son of Nestor to recline in sympathizer close to the lord himself, honored further by being addicted the opportunity to make libations to the sea god from a precious princely cup. Did Nestor believe these two were emissaries of or one even the bulky earth shaker himself? Probably not, but one can never be too certain in a society in which Gods are purported to walk among men. Greek culture of the time relied heavily on divination and searched constantly for omens as seen in the repeated motif o f dame signs. The auspicious arrival of the pair likely suggested something of importance to the aged lord. As it happens, Poseidon was far off among the sunburnt races being regaled by smoke of thighbones burning at the moment and Nestor had to make due with a disguised, grey-eyed goddess of intuition and war (Book 1, lines 36 and 39). Perhaps such cases of visiting deities were not as common in Homers Ionian Asia-Monor however, there are numerous tales of prominent dignitaries, often viewed with god-like awe, traveling incognito.