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Greek Value Of Xenia In Homer's The Odyssey

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“It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value” ---Arthur C. Clarke This quote explicitly addresses the important Greek value of Metis as it talks about intelligence. From Homer’s The Odyssey, some cultural values that are specific to this text and could be learned are following hospitality, being street smart, and to not show excessive pride as it is a vice. There are other values like Piety and Patriarchy but they are not as specific to the text. Xenia is a code of conduct that involves three laws and is followed by the most loyal characters from The Odyssey. It is a famous and important Greek value that shows hospitality to anyone; including strangers. Many characters from The Odyssey follow Xenia like Nausikaa, Arete and Alkinoos. “Give …show more content…

This was said by Nausikaa, when she found Odysseus on a beach. She is offering hospitality to a complete stranger, thus following the code of conduct. She does this out of kindness and pity for Odysseus as he is naked and tired, when she first sees him. Arete and Alkinoos also follow Xenia, like their daughter. “Hear me, lords and captains of the Phaiakians! / Hear what my heart would have me say! / Our guest and new friend--- nameless to me still--- / comes to my house after long wandering/ … / well to your tholepins, lads, then leave the ship,” (VIII, 28-41). Alkinoos offers help as he is also kind and the Phaiakians generally have a habit of taking people back to their home. But, throughout the book, the suitors don’t exemplify Xenia as they eat up the entire kingdom and don’t respect Odysseus’s property. “they use / our house as

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