Odyssey Hospitality Essay -- Essays Papers

Odyssey HospitalityHospitality In The Odyssey by Homer, hospitality plays a very weighty role. There ar certain rules of hospitality needed, such(prenominal) as inviting a stranger into your home, not contracting them their name to begin with they have dined at your table, and some clock even gift offerings. If these rules of hospitality are not carried out, the consequences are very severe. Hospitality is to be given to every(prenominal) by all. Being a good host is very important in The Odyssey, even to the gods. It is a sign of respect for all no matter where they are from or how poor they appear to be. This means that as soon as you see a stranger, you invite them into your home to sit around at your table just as king Nestor did. As soon as they saw the strangers, all came crowding down, waving them on in welcome, urging them tosit. (III, 38) After you have invited them into your home, you must invite them to dine at your table. Only after they have dined, you have the per mission to ask for their names, like King Menelaus did, Help yourselves to food, and welcome Once youve dined well ask you who you are. (IV, 68-69) Many times before dining ...women had washed them, rubbed them down with oil and drawn firm fleece and shirts around their shoulders... (IV, 56-57) If the host enjoyed the company of the guests, many times they allow honor them with gifts. The kind of gifts given varied depending on the wealth and kind-heartedness of the host. For example, Aeolus, the king of the winds, gave Odysseus a...