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Essay On Xenia In The Odyssey

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Xenia Although many people have never even heard of the word Xenia, it is used multiple times in the epic The Odyssey. Xenia means to have "basic hospitality, the generosity and courtesy shown to those who are far from home (Wikipedia, Xenia Greek, pg.1.) In Ancient Greece there was no such thing as a motel 6 to be able to stay the night at while you were away from home, so you would hope that the person that you are going to knock on the door to ask if you can stay the night or nights with has good Xenia and will allow you to stay in their home. The Odyssey shows the concept of Xenia all throughout the book from Odysseus's long journey to the people and gods he meets along the way. Most people living in Ancient Greece did not use Xenia …show more content…

As an example, King Odysseus was gone at sea, suitors were living in his palace in hopes of one day marrying Queen Penelope. While of Odysseus was gone the suitors were treated very well but, they were very rude, disrespectful, and when Penelope or the maids asked them to leave they would not. After many years they queen had, had enough of the suitors because they had majorly overstayed their welcome. If you were a guest who was reviving Xenia you we're supposed to be respectful of your stay which means you were supposed to be respectful, grateful, and you were not supposed to stay longer than you needed to longer then you were welcomed which was what the suitors had done. Since the suitors were not respectful of the Xenia that they had been given they were punished. Their whole goal while staying at the palace was to be able to marry Penelope, but they were not able to do that. When Odysseus returned and heard of how the suitors has treated his family he was outraged, so he took Telemachus and they went after the suitors slaughtering them one by one. In this story the suitors received Xenia very well, but they did not give it back, so they were punished just like the god Zeus said he

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