Early Greek Views of Hospitality

Xenia: Hospitality or "guest-friendship" in early Greece, viewed through Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.
The Iliad and the Odyssey: These poems outline the events of the Trojan War, starting with a violation of xenia.
Violation of Xenia: Paris, prince of Troy, abducted Helen from her husband Menelaus, king of Sparta. Whether Helen was a willing participant is ambiguous.
Judgment of Paris: Paris judged a beauty contest between Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera, awarding the title to Aphrodite, who bribed him with Helen.
Oath of Tyndareus: A vow of protection taken by Helen's suitors was invoked, leading Agamemnon to lead an expedition to Troy.
Trojan War: The ten-year conflict resulted in many deaths, but the Iliad ends before its resolution. Lost epics bridge events before, between, and after the Iliad and Odyssey.
Odyssey: Focuses on Odysseus' journey home (nostos). His encounters illustrate xenia, its expectations, and consequences of its violation.
Cultural Mandates: Ancient Greeks viewed these poems as cultural guidelines for xenia.

Necessity: Hospitality was not a courtesy but a necessity in ancient Greece due to the scarcity of inns and restaurants.
Philoxenia: "Kindness due to strangers" was a moral imperative.
Zeus Xenios: Zeus was believed to ensure hospitality, with the cult title Zeus Xenios meaning "Zeus who ensures the duty of hospitality is carried out."

Meanings of Xenos: The Greek noun ξένος (“xenos”) has various meanings: “guest,” “wanderer,” “refugee,” “stranger,” or “guest-friend.”
Fluidity: The term’s fluidity captures the transition from stranger to guest to friend.
Xenophobia: Modern readers encounter the root of xenos in the context of xenophobia–fear of the outsider.

Definition: Xenia is the relationship between guest and host, a reciprocal bond with cultural imperatives.
Lasting Bond: This bond lasted a lifetime and created an inherited obligation over generations.
Steve Reece's Analysis: Reece identifies 38 elements in 18 hospitality scenes in Homer.

Arrival: Stranger arrives at the door.
Welcome: Stranger is welcomed, disarmed, and invited in.
Washing: Stranger is bathed or given a chance to wash up.
Seating: Stranger is invited to sit and given the best seat.
Entertainment: Food and drink are provided.
Questioning: Only after needs are met is the stranger questioned about their identity and purpose.
Accommodation: Guest is given a place to sleep.

Requesting Xenia: Travelers would request xenia from a peer.
Examples: Odysseus (disguised as a beggar) is welcomed by the swineherd Eumaeus. Telemachus expects xenia at the palaces of Nestor and Menelaus.

Sealed Relationship: The relationship is sealed with gifts and the offer of reciprocity.

Insular World: Imagine a world where citizenship was limited to those born within the polis (Greek city-state).
Limited Travel: Travel was cumbersome, slow, and dangerous due to pirates and brigands.
Greek Identity: Shared language, religion, culture, and ancestry (to hellenikon) united Greeks, but each polis was a separate political entity.
Polis Structure: Consisted of an urban area (astu) and surrounding farmlands (chora) for self-sufficiency.
Travel Restrictions: Travel outside the polis was mainly for trade, military expeditions, political embassies, or religious purposes.
Limited Female Travel: The number of women travelers was even fewer.

Necessity: Venturing outside the polis meant relying on the kindness of strangers.

Ovid's Metamorphoses: Illustrates the importance of xenia through the tale of Baucis and Philemon.
The Story: Zeus and Hermes, disguised as travelers, are turned away by wealthy townspeople but are welcomed by the poor couple Baucis and Philemon.
Reward: The gods grant the couple’s wish to die together and transform them into trees (oak and linden) entwined together; the homes of those who denied hospitality are destroyed.
Theoxenia: Hospitality to gods underlines the idea that strangers might be gods in disguise.

Emphasis on Xenia: The importance of xenia is emphasized from the start of the Odyssey.
The Suitors: Suitors overstay their welcome in Odysseus’ house, consuming his resources and pressuring Penelope.
Telemachus' Example: Telemachus welcomes Athena in disguise, demonstrating ideal xenia.
Steps Taken by Telemachus:
- Greets Athena at the gate.
- Invites her in to share dinner.
- Provides a chair and footstool away from the suitors.
- Offers washing water.
- Serves a generous spread of food and wine.
- Only after these steps, he asks her identity and purpose.

Seeking Information: Telemachus travels to find information about his father, spurred by Athena.
Nestor's Hospitality: He and Athena/Mentes are offered hospitality by Nestor and his sons in Pylos.
Example of Ideal Xenia at Pylos:
- Strangers are welcomed and seated.
- Food and drink are served.
- Only then are they questioned.
- Telemachus is given a place to sleep.

Odysseus' Arrival: After being released from Calypso’s island, Odysseus washes up on the shore of the Phaeacians.
Nausicaä's Help: Nausicaä, daughter of King Alcinous, offers food, clothing and guidance to the palace.
King Alcinous' Hospitality: Odysseus is welcomed at the court, given food, drink, and entertainment for two days.
Gifts and Transport: Upon departure, Odysseus receives rich gifts and a ship to transport him home.

The Cyclops Polyphemus: His treatment of Odysseus and his men exemplifies violations of xenia.
Odysseus' Actions: Odysseus violates xenia by entering Polyphemus’ cave uninvited and helping himself to food.
Polyphemus' Actions:
- Immediately asks Odysseus’ identity.
- Eats Odysseus’ men instead of offering hospitality.
- Traps them in the cave.
- Offers to eat Odysseus last as a “guest-gift.”

Clear Examples: The custom of xenia was well-defined, offering examples to emulate and avoid.
Modern Relevance: Despite challenges to welcoming strangers, modern examples of xenia exist, such as signs promoting neighborliness.
Rune of Hospitality: A rune of hospitality illustrates the best of humanity towards strangers:
I saw a stranger yestreen;
I put food in the eating place, drink in the drinking place, music in the listening place, and in the name of the Triune he blessed myself and my house, my cattle and my dear ones, and the lark said in her song often, often, often,
goes the Christ in the stranger’s guise, often, often, often
goes the Christ in the stranger’s guise.