Ancient Greek xenia custom in the Telemachy of the Odyssey

Xenia as an Institution of Order in Homeric Society

Xenia, the custom of hospitality in Homeric society, is widely practiced in Homer's "The Odyssey." While xenia was at times extended to guests out of the goodness of a one's heart, it was more often extended as a method of maintaining order and avoiding conflict. Not only did xenia endear guests to their hosts and hostesses, often moving them to extend returning xenia should the opportunity arise; xenia was also a means of pleasing and honoring the gods, as visitors were believed to be sent from the gods for a specific purpose. When xenia is observed, peace and order prevail, as it did when Odysseus' son Telemachus visited Nestor. When xenia is not observed -- either by host or guest -- chaos ensues.

Regarding Telemachus' visit to Nestor, Telemachus was accompanied by the goddess Minerva and Nestor sought to honor the gods by receiving him hospitably.

"Heaven and the immortal gods," he exclaimed, "forbid that you should leave my house to go on board of a ship. Do you think I am so poor and short of clothes, or that I have so few cloaks and as to be unable to find comfortable beds both for myself and for my guests? Let me tell you I have store both of rugs and cloaks, and shall not permit the son of my old friend Ulysses to camp down on the deck of a ship- not while I live- nor yet will my sons after me, but they will keep open house as have done." (Book 3)

And indeed, the goddess was pleased, praising Nestor for his hospitality and further inciting him to "send [Telemachus] to Lacedaemon in a chariot, and let one of your sons go with him. Be pleased also to provide him with your best and fleetest horses" (Book 3).

The giving of gifts upon a guest's departure is an important aspect of xenia. In the case of Telemachus and Nestor, Nestor obeyed the goddess Minerva and supplied him with a team of horses, in addition to a housekeeper and provisions in the form of "bread and wine . . . And meats too, food fit for the sons of king" (Book 3, lines 537-538). Having been the recipient of such gifts and good will, Telemachus departed Nestor's house on excellent terms with the man.

By contrast, the suitors who "continue to bleed [Odysseus'] household white" are eventually slain or driven from the house in disgrace (Book 1, line 296). The suitor's violation of xenia results not only in their own deaths, but in the deaths of several slaves who either laid with the suitors in a sexual manner, or otherwise betrayed Odysseus' house in lieu of the suitor's will. Long before we see what the lack of proper xenia results in, we see the order proper xenia maintains in King Menelaus' reception of Telemachus. Menelaus not only receives Telemachus hospitably, but also bids his sons invite Telemachus' crew and all those aboard his ship to the house as well. Menelaus then bids the maids "to prepare an excellent dinner, and to fetch seats, and logs of wood for a burnt offering. Tell them also- to bring me some clear spring water" (Book 4).

When Menelaus learns that Telemachus is Odysseus' son, we see one further purpose of xenia; to honor the dead or those thought to be dead.

"Bless my heart," replied Menelaus, "then I am receiving a visit from the son of a very dear friend, who suffered much hardship for my sake. I had always hoped to entertain him with most marked distinction when heaven had granted us a safe return from beyond the seas. I should have founded a city for him in Argos, and built him a house. I should have made him leave Ithaca with his goods, his son, and all his people, and should have sacked for them some one of the neighboring cities that are subject to me." (Book 4)

As Menelaus cannot honor his friend as he had hoped to, he lavishes Telemachus with xenia in his stead.