Depiction of Greek Hospitality in The Odyssey by Homer

In ancient Greek times their values and social ideals were the fundamental basis of their daily lives. Not only were they apart of their daily lives but these moral codes formed the social structures and mores of the ancient culture. Greeks embraced these values and were vigilant in upholding these rules as it gave meaning to the world around them and were their true values. In the epic poem The Odyssey composed by Homer, the journey and interactions of the protagonist Odysseus emphasizes these values. Homer enables the modern reader to glimpse the social structure and customs of hospitality throughout the text as he reveals them when Telemachos hosts Athene, Phaecians hosts Odysseus, and the suitors begin to take hospitality for granted.

Early on in the epic, the son of Odysseus, Telemachos, provides an initial example of hospitality which emphasizes the customs and mores of Greek ideals. Initially, Athene appears in Ithaca, disguised as Mentes, to convince Telemachos to seek news of his father Odysseus. It becomes clear that Telemachos is one to treat Mentes (Athene) and the insolent suitors with proper respect as he greeted her: ‘“Welcome stranger. You shall be entertained as a guest among us. Afterward, when you have tasted dinner, you shall tell us what your need is”’. Telemachos’s notable behavior exemplifies how he allows the stranger into his household to eat and drink without knowing his identity. Although he did not know the stranger, the ancient Greek idea of hospitality was embraced to please the Gods and Goddess and decrease the chance of being punished. Certainly, one guest could only imagine the lavish extremities they could expect as they were welcomed as Mentes was greeted, “with a cloth to sit on, the chair splendid and elaborate. For her feet there was a footstool”. Extending hospitality was not only a part of a ritualistic nature but was about providing courtesy to strangers of any condition, as Telemachos accepted Mentes into his household without hesitation. Virtues of hospitality are a core custom and are essential to ancient Greek ideals as this idea underlies the morals of ancient Greek culture throughout the epic.

Just as Telemachos is an illustration of ideal hospitality, the Phaecians provide the pinnacle of hospitality despite social structure. Princess Nausicaa welcomes Odysseus and his crew men despite the threat of strange men, and offers them a plentiful of food, and entertainment as do her parents King Alcinous, and Queen Arete. Readers are able to capitalize on this instance as it displays that although Odysseus appears on an Island of “royalty”, the social structure does not affect one's experience of hospitality. Upon this instance, Odysseus came ashore, “his flesh was swollen, and the sea water crusted stiffly in his mouth and nostrils, and with a terrible weariness…”. Homer highlights this detail emphasizing how Princess Nausicaa took in Odysseus and his men regardless of appearance. With night falling short, the men are received by Demodokos who performs; and soon Odyessus weeps as the song reminds him of his sufferings at Troy. Soon, the Phaecians express remorse, and shower Odysseus in gifts, and lavish offerings. By customary measures Queen Arete brought out: “the splendid chest for the stranger, and in it laid the beautiful presents, the clothing and the gold which the Phaiakians had given...”. Indeed with the Phaecians hosting Odysseus, and his men, readers are able to glimpse the substantial conduct that ancient Greeks held within their society regarding hospitality.

As hospitality requires being a good guest just as much as a good host, the insolent suitors that infest Penelope’s palace displays atrocious behavior as they begin to take hospitality for granted. Initially, the suitors were welcomed to the palace in order to impress Penelope and take her hand in marriage. Each one dying to marry her, they begin living at the palace, to an extent that it was their home. Although it was not their home, hospitality was expected from Penelope, Telemachos and those hosting these insolent suitors. As each day passes, Telemachos describes the suitors as they, “loiter in our house and sacrifice our oxen and our sheep and our fat goats…”. Although it is customary to provide hospitality, there must be an equal balance between a guest and their host. In this instance, the suitors take advantage by what they’ve been given such as food, and shelter. Furthermore, without the strong male presence of Odysseus in the household, the suitors consume the lives of Penelope and those who must provide a hospitable environment. As Telemachos hopes for his father's return he continues to say: “We have no man here such as Odysseus was, to drive this curse from the household”. With the customary glimpse that Homer provides, hospitality is considerably one of the largest mores of the ancient Greeks. To an extent, one can expect a generous reception, but at the hands of Penelope, Telemachos, and the suitors, hospitality was taken for granted and flourished into an atrocious battle.

As hospitality is a core custom that is associated with the ancient Greeks, the modern reader is able to comprehend the customs, social structure and mores of The Odyssey of Homer as Telemachos hosts Athene, the Phaecians host Odysseus, and how the suitors take advantage of what hospitality can provide. Additionally, when Telemachos hosts Athene in the form of Mentes, he allows a stranger generously into the household regardless of who they are. Similarly, when Odysseus arrives ashore on Phaeacia, they welcome him and his crew men with open arms after a rough journey, and soon bless him with food and entertainment. In contrast of good hospitality, the insolent suitors take advantage of what they’ve been provided with and exemplify the opposite morals of hospitality. Not only is hospitality a custom and more of ancient Greek culture, but is an example of what is morally good.