Hopitality in the Odyssey

Hospitality is a key concept in The Odyssey. In the ancient world, travelers and strangers were to be given hospitality with no questions asked. A visitor to a palace would receive immediate hospitality, as a host knows that there is a possibility that it might be a god. In The Odyssey , hospitality included being bathed, rubbed by beautiful maids with oils, given fine linens to and a cloak to wear, and fed with good food …

…epic exhibited some form of hospitality. Only enemies did not feed and shelter each other. This shows that the ancient Greeks valued a social society in which each person was obligated to help others when in need. Although the settings contribute both good and bad points of hospitality throughout the Odyssey, the discovery of this theme is very important as it describes the nature of the hosts and hostesses whom enjoy the company of visitors.