Examples of Hospitality in the Odyssey
Ancient Greece was a whole different dimension when it comes to respecting, common courtesy, and hospitality. Nowadays in the year 2020, if a stranger were to show up at one’s door they may do one of two things, answer the door with concern, or call the police. That was not the case in Ancient Greece, and even many other colonies existed in the eighth century. In fact, it was seen as disrespectful and shameful in the eyes of Zeus to not welcome a complete stranger into one’s home and offer shelter. In most cases, there would be food, drink, and shelter offered to any stranger before their name is even asked. However, like in any other time period and every other place, not everybody followed the rules. In The Odyssey, an epic by Homer talks about the travels of a man named Odysseus that’s trying to make his way back to the city of Ithaca, after successfully leading the Greeks in conquering Troy. Along the way, he met many hosts, some great, some not so great. Both are shown in multiple ways throughout the poem. Two good contrasting examples are the Phaeacians, who were the epitome of good hospitality, and the Cyclops, who represent the worst hospitality in the book. As mentioned earlier in my Introduction, the reason this hospitality is so important is that to not be a good host is shameful in the name of Zeus, almost like it would be insulting Zeus himself if a host were to turn down helping a stranger or to be a bad host in general. There are multiple examples of hospitality in the Odyssey of both good and bad, but it was always important and noticed which one each character was.
.There are multiple occurrences in which bad hospitality is shown. The suitors are an example of what being a bad host means. They were disrespectful towards Odysseus’ and Telemachus’ homes. In the book, they are characterized as rowdy, arrogant, and carefree. Throughout the book we can see that although it is wrong, the suitors continue to sacrifice animals and use them for banquets, and they finish all the wine In Ancient Greece, not only was it important to live up to the standards of what being a good consisted of, but it was also important that guests be a good guest rather than bad one. Having good manners then was something important just as it is today. In Ancient Greece if someone was feeding, sheltering, and entertaining a guest, the guest was not to be a burden, or take more than they are offered, or else they look just as disgraceful in the eyes of Zeus. However as said before it is still seen as vice versa if a host doesn't show proper hospitality. This also decides for the hosts if they’re hostable in cases where they would need the same hospitality from one of the Grecians they may have hosted in the past. Homer makes it clear throughout the entire book that hospitality is one of the most important aspects to life in Ancient Greece. Examples of prime hospitality are shown in Phaeacia when she hosts Odysseus, she says, ”Hearing that, Alcinous, poised in all his majesty, took the hand of the seasoned, Worldly-wise Odysseus, raised him up and sat him down in a burnished chair, displacing his own son…”. Alcinous in this quote is shown as an amazing host, this is a great example showing how important hospitality was in Ancient Greece. In this case, Alcinous had his own son move from his chair so his guest, Odysseus could have a seat, basically showing readers that a guest-to-host relationship is even more important than one between father and son in eighth-century Greece. This quote also shows the impact that being a good host has on one's reputation. Because Alcinous was such a noble host to Odysseus he is deemed as a civilized and good man in the eyes of other citizens. Being a good host shows one's true character, “And about your convoy home, you rest assured: I have chosen the day and decided it is tomorrow”. In this quote Alcinous offers Odysseus a gift as a voyage to his next destination, further showing his validity as a host, and civilized man, he had even let Odysseus sleep in the royal beds in his humble abode. Although Alcinous showed a perfect example of what a host should be, there is a perfect contrast to this character in the Cyclops, who doesn’t particularly follow the courtesy of hosting.
In this case, the Cyclops is seen as an uncivilized beast, one can definitely sense a pattern there. In fact, when Odysseus and his men came across his cave, this is what happened, “Lurching up, he lunged out with his hands toward my men and snatching two of them at once, rapping them on the ground he knocked them dead like pups…”. Clearly, he isn’t too friendly, Odysseus was quite shocked at the fact of the Cyclops displaying such disrespect towards them seeing as this society had set rules of hospitality, and the Cyclops was knowingly and willingly ignoring them. In fact, the Cyclops furthers this point by saying, “I’ll eat Nobody last of all his friends - I’ll eat the others first! That’s my gift to you”. In this quote, the Cyclops is threatening his guests and offering them a belligerent gift, which further violates the rules of hospitality. The Cyclops is very well breaking these rules with great knowledge he is doing so. In Ancient Greece, there was absolutely no explanation to that kind of rude and awful hospitality, but the uncivilized beast could care less. However, Zeus’ wrath is also shown in this part of the poem, and ultimately shows leaders that hospitality is no joke, thus why the Cyclops faced major repercussions for his ungodly actions. “So we seized our stake with its fiery tip and bored it round and round in the giant's eye…”. This quote just goes to show that bad hosts' actions do not go unnoticed. Once one betrayed every rule of hospitality and instead shows hostility, they become susceptible to judgment, torture, or even killings from their guests, or even others, and the said bad host has basically been deemed a “no flight list” as a guest and a civilian. Another awful host Odysseus had come across was Circe (one may guess this means maybe one shouldn’t seek shelter from a creature as opposed to a human). While Odysseus was sheltered with Circe, he said, “The suitors in Odysseus’s house are an example of how a guest exploits and violates the Greek rules of hospitality. In book XIV, Eumaios describes how the suitors treat Odysseus' property. Eumaios says that they “forcibly eat up his property, and spare nothing.” This shows that although Circe isn’t doing what the Cyclops did and eating his guests, he is a close runner-up of poisoning their food in order to turn them into pigs. Although Odysseus found his way out of that one, One must be sure it’s listening somewhere in Hospitality rules that one’s not supposed to do that to their guests.
Hospitality plays one of the more major roles in The Odyssey by Homer. Although there are many other spiritual, magical points to the poem, hospitality is the thing in Ancient Greece that would deem someone civilized as a human or not. Good hosts are seen as civilized humans deserving of respect and equal treatment, however, if one is deemed a bad or evil host, they are again susceptible to punishment no matter who it is from. This basically creates a two-tier Hierarchy for Ancient Grecians, one group is the bottom tier, unloved, inhospitable. The top tier would consist of people like Alcinous, or Penelope, who would even bathe her guests, who are seen as highly civilized and loved as citizens, and able to be sheltered anywhere at any time. Hospitality is meant to enrich the relationship between all citizens, but when that algorithm is disrupted by those who decide to harm or turn away guests in need, the repercussions are definitely visible to any in all, in warning not be to a bad host and/or guest. Throughout the adventures of Odysseus examples of hospitality were shown, whether it be hospitable or inhospitable, he made it where he needed to be.
Having many contrasting characters in this epic poem made it fairly easy to point out differences between what was acceptable in Ancient Greece and what was not. As mentioned before in the essay if one were a bad host they would be susceptible to torture, and even death, and deemed as an irrelevant citizen, who may not be able to guest anywhere with that reputation, and rightfully vice versa, if one is a good host they are rewarded the shining reputation and respect in shelters when needed.
