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Nicholas Whitlow
Dr. Rasmussen
HUM 110-4092
2018, November 21
Odysseus: Friend or Foe
“Xenia” is used to describe the virtue of showing generosity or courtesy to strangers of any condition and creating a genial relationship between host and guest. Scholars believe this was the case because of their religious views; they believed gods were disguised as humans. In today’s society, the generosity shown for unknown guests have shifted its focus on protecting your estate or family and the reason for that is because there is a mystery of will this person rob me. This was not the case for ancient Greece because there was a code to be upheld by the guest and host. Xenia was expressed all over Greece and also in the Homeric epics. Homer’s, “The Odyssey” delineates the very important aspect of hospitality in Ancient Greek culture; focusing on Odysseus and Telemachus’ journey and the many different people that they encounter, causing Odysseus’ nostos to extend for ten years, but also sharing Telemachus’ journey, and the experiences of xenia, to find more news about his missing father.
Telemachus is exposed to hospitality, first hand from many fellow greek cities and their Kings. The Greeks believed that gods came disguised as humans, so they treated their guests accordingly. The first instance of hospitality is shown in Book One and Two, when Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, is forced to entertain the many suitors that are trying to take her hand in marriage. Odysseus tells her to marry if he does not return by the time his son, Telemachus, grows a beard. Her suitors would continue to throw parties and eat all of the food and use up the materials, which forced the various materials and food to be replenished continuously, for ten whole years. Telemachus and
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Penelope try their best to fend of these unwelcomed suitors as long as they can, until Odysseus returns. Due to the lack of order in the estate, the suitors easily take over, until Telemachus, Odysseus’ young boy, decides to call an assembly. The assembly takes place and Telemachus informs them that he will be searching for news, about his father, luckily, he is assisted by Athena during his trip. On his journey to Pylos, Telemachus makes a plan to greet Nestor and follow the footsteps of Orestes, Agamemnon’s son and save his mother from marrying one of the suitors. As he begins to share his story to Nestor, he is greeted and offers Telemachus help:
”’May Zeus and all the other immortals beside forfend that you,…should go on back to your fast ship as from some man altogether poor and without clothing, who has not any abundance of blankets and rugs in his household for his guests,…No, no, in my house the dear son of Odysseus shall not have to go to sleep on the deck of a ship, as long as I am alive…’”(Book 3: 346-355).
Nestor becomes even more hospitable after he knows who Telemachus’ father is; he would have greeted him and helped him with his travels, but in the instance he treats him as a son, due to the bond Nestor and Odysseus have. Nestor uses Orestes as an example and sends his own son, Pisistratus, to head to Sparta with him to find more news about his father, Odysseus. The relationship shown between Nestor and Telemachus, furthermore, proves that the suitors are careless and unwilling to follow the unwritten code of societal law. During this period, the suitors plan on killing Telemachus, so they can take over the estate and Penelope. As they arrive to Sparta, they are welcomed by King Menelaus and Queen Helen, where King Menelaus shares Odysseus’ tale at Troy and how he helped them win, during a feast shared with Telemachus. King Menelaus and Queen Helen, notice the resemblance of Odysseus in
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Telemachus, before he even reveals himself to them. The suitor’s disrespect towards Telemachus builds animosity in him, quickly turning to thoughts of malice. At the same time, these suitors are plotting to kill Telemachus to gain, full and unhindered access of the estate. Transitioning now to Odysseus and his experiences with hospitality during his voyage home.
Odysseus has experienced hostility and hospitality from many of the hosts he meets, luckily the generosity allows him to return home. Odysseus’ ship gets destroyed by Poseidon, causing him to meet Nausicaa, Phaeacian princess on the beach as they do laundry and play. Odysseus wakes up from his slumber in the woods and meets Princess Nausicaa, “‘But now, since it is our land and our city that you have come to, you shall not lack for clothing nor anything else…’” (Book 6: 191-193). Although hospitality was tested, Odysseus meets her on the beach and Princess Nausicaa offers to take him with her but he declines and asks for directions, due to the xenophobic nature of this group of people. She grants his wishes and gives him directions to the Phaeacian palace, where he is told to greet Queen Arete, since she is more understanding. He begs the Queen to allow him to use a ship to head home even without revealing his true identity. The King Alcinous and Queen Arete grant him the ship with crewmates and also their daughter’s, Nausicaa, hand in marriage. The Phaeacian people, normally a biased group, offer to help Odysseus return back to his homeland the following day after a feast and games. The Phaeacian king, Alcinous invites people over to participate in games and a feast, before he is homeward bound, which is a rare sight just because not many guests come to their land. During the feast and games, Odysseus informs the people, “‘Let any of the rest,… any of the Phaeacians, except Alcinous himself, for he is my host;…’”(Book 8: 204-211). Not only
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must the host be courteous but also the guest must follow the unwritten code of law. The relationship between host and guest must be cordial and the guest must not ask for anything but to give gifts just like the host. They ask Odysseus to recollect his journey to the palace after recognizing Princess Nausicaa’s clothes on him. He then sheds light on his voyage, as well as, relinquish responsibility from Nausicaa, whom is looked down upon after Queen Arete notices Princess Nausicaa’s clothes on Odysseus, but did not bring him with her to the palace. Another instance, where Odysseus is exposed to great hospitality is when Aeolus gives him the bag of winds to help him reach his destination. Aeolus’ willingness to give, does not only allow him to get on the right path, but gets him in view of Ithaca. Although, his shipmates selfishness turns them in the opposite direction, he returns to Aeolus where he is not so generous as he thinks the gods are against Odysseus. After his story is shared with the Phaeacian people he rests for his voyage home. Finally, the next day Odysseus reaches Ithaca because of the Phaeacians ship and crew and is protected by Eumaeus the old man. This way the suitors and Telemachus are unaware of his arrival allowing him to figure the best way to reveal himself. Even though Odysseus is disguised, Eumaeus’ code of law allows Odysseus time to plot and take back his estate: “You too, old man of many sorrows…It is not for that I will entertain and befriend you, but for fear of Zeus, the god of guests…”(Book 14: 386-389). Again the ‘xenia’ of ancient greece is instilled in the culture and allows Odysseus and any other roaming guest travel with help from others. As Telemachus heads back to Ithaca with help from Theoclymenus; they are forced to head to Eumaeus’ home, where they meet Odysseus in disguise. Eumaeus welcomes them and Odysseus finally reveals himself to his son. They finally meet and plan on taking over his estate by killing off Penelope’s suitors, because they heard that they
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plan on killing Telemachus and taking over his estate. .Odysseus also is exposed to many creatures and the lack of hospitality they have, on his voyage home.
Even though, there were many people helping Odysseus during his nostos, there were also creatures that were very hostile to him and his crew, which was the main reason the trip home took so long. Odysseus recollects his wanderings to the Phaeacians and the first sign of hostility was shared by the Cyclops; Poseidon's son, Polyphemus, where he eats two of his crewmates and holds Odysseus hostage. Even though, Polyphemus is a god’s son he treats them with ill will; “”Give me still more, freely, and tell me your name straightaway now, so I can give you a guest present to make you happy.’”(Book 9: 355-366). The creatures of the surrounding ancient Greek cities, do not seem to follow the xenia expressed everywhere else. Odysseus knows he must not tell him his name because he plans on trying to escape the captivity of Polyphemus. The crew is then faced against the Laestrygonians, man-eating Giants, who destroy all the ships and eat the crew, except Odysseus’ ship. The land is filled with hostile giants and there are no code of law, when dealing with these group of giants. Uscathed, Odysseus is met by Hermes who informs Odysseus to consume moly, which will protect him from the witch-goddess Circe. As the leftover crew is turned into pigs, by the witch, Odysseus is unfazed by her spell: “So she spoke to them, and the rest gave voice, and called her…She brought them inside and seated them on chairs and benches, and mixed them a potion,…but put into the mixture malignant drugs, to make them forgetful…she struck her wand and drove them into her pig pens,…the minds within them stayed as they had been before.”(Book 10:229-241). As Circe, tries to do the same to Odysseus, the moly works, and quickly her hostility turns into generosity, turning him into her lover. Where he is then treated like a king, which is interesting
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because she sees him as some sort of immortal, allowing there to be an unbreakable connection within their relationship. After a year with Circe, Odysseus finally leaves the land and heads to the underworld, where he is met with all the souls of old comrades in the Trojan War. After more wandering, they are faced with two creatures in the sea, Scylla and Charybdis. Scylla eating six of his men, display the unruly hatred, creatures have for the mortals of the world. Finally, after dealing with multiple hostile environments, Odysseus is still having to face the suitors who have taken over his estate. After revealing himself to the suitors, he is then faced with a battle for his estate and wife Penelope.
“The Odyssey” is full of events, sharing generosity and courtesy for unknown guest, however not all people nor creatures share that same hospitality, instead they share hostility towards these guests. Which makes this story and journey so great and so long, with hospitality shared everywhere he would have been at his estate with his wife, no longer than some months to a year. Displaying hospitality to the unknown guests not only allowed them to express there religious views, but also allow others the courage to ask for help. Whereas, the hostility shared in the epic, delineates the true nature between greek society and others. Without religious views and encouragement from the elders, the world would be a hostile place for free roamers, xenophobes, creatures and lost souls alike.