The Odyssey
Book 9
Embedded Files
The idea of Xenia- a sacred ritual practiced by all and protected by Zeus.
The idea of Xenia- a sacred ritual practiced by all and protected by Zeus.
A short video that explains what is included in Xenia, what constitutes as bad and good Xenia, as well as examples of it that we are able to see in the poem, The Odyssey.
Open the door and provide food for a stranger; make sure that they have a safe way home. In the world we live in now, this is not a tradition that we still uphold. But back then in Ancient Greece, it was a tradition to be honored at all times. The idea of Xenia was well known and practiced. There were rules that were to be followed and a steps to be done in a certain way.
When reading the book, I thought that it was interesting that Odysseus and his crew was just able to go into the cave with the owner not even around. The men ate things with the owner's permission and made themselves "at home" while waiting for the return of the Cyclops. The lecture brought up to light the idea of Xenia. When I read the book before, I didn't know that Xenia was a thing. Learning about this cultural aspect really helped make sense of the whole scene.
It also helped with the storytelling for Odysseus. He was able to create a story that was similar enough to his current siutation that his story was able to be both a gift and a warning. The cultural aspect added to the story allowed the Phaeacians be able to connect to Odysseus. The world that Odysseus was able to build helped him get back to his own world in reality.
But in today's society, none of this would pass. Of course there are times where we would allow people into our houses- our friends, family, people we know- and allow them to rest, eat, have fun. But strangers- we wouldn't allow them into our houses; we have no way of knowing what their intentions are. The story that Odysseus is telling the Phaeacians is what I see as a burglary. Recently there have been many more break-ins in places like North Charleston, the Bay Area, and even locally like Long Beach.
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