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In lines 211 - 216, Odysseus asks the Cyclops to adhere to the Greek laws for treating strangers. What are these laws?

User Kivan
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Final answer:

Odysseus is invoking 'xenia', the Greek code of hospitality that requires hosts to treat guests with generosity and respect, a concept deeply ingrained in Greek culture and endorsed by Zeus.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Odysseus asks the Cyclops to adhere to the Greek laws for treating strangers, he is referring to the concept of xenia, which is the ancient Greek concept of hospitality.

The laws were unwritten moral codes that required the host to provide for the guest with respect, protection, and gifts, while the guest had the duty to be courteous and not be a burden. This was a sacred law endorsed by Zeus, the guardian of guests and protector of suppliants.

In Greek society, abiding by these laws was crucial, as the failure to honor the customs of hospitality could invite divine wrath or dishonor.

Examples in literature, such as the treatment of foreigners in Cicero's 'On Moral Duties' and the behavior of a just man in Philostratus' 'Life of Apollonius', underline the importance of kind and fair treatment towards strangers.

User Eldon
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