Question

Which is NOT true of xenia as it pertains both to the Greek culture and to The Odyssey? Failure to show xenia, both within the book and within Greek culture, was believed to incur the wrath of Zeus. Xenia involves a reciprocal guest/host relationship of hospitality. Odysseus violated the code of xenia when he was a guest of Polythemus. It is based on obligation, not on friendship. all of the above

Answer 1

Xenia, the code of hospitality in ancient Greek culture and The Odyssey, involves a reciprocal relationship where hosts provide safety and hospitality, and guests are respectful. Odysseus's encounter with Polyphemus involved a complex interpretation of xenia, as Polyphemus was a host who violated this code first by harming guests. The practice of xenia was under the protection of Zeus and was not solely based on obligation, as genuine friendships could develop from these relationships.

Step-by-step explanation:

The concept of xenia is fundamental in both Greek culture and Homer's The Odyssey. Xenia denotes the ancient Greek code of hospitality, where hosts must bestow gifts upon guests and treat them well. A host should also respect a guest's requests and provide them a safe environment. Reciprocally, guests are expected to be courteous and grateful to their hosts.

When analyzing the statement that Odysseus violated the code of xenia when he was a guest of Polyphemus, it's crucial to understand that Polyphemus, the Cyclops, did not uphold the rules of xenia to begin with, as he was a savage who devoured some of Odysseus's men instead of offering them hospitality. Thus, it could be argued that in defending himself and his remaining men, Odysseus was responding to a violation of xenia, rather than committing one himself.

Failure to observe xenia could indeed invoke the displeasure of the gods, particularly Zeus, the protector of guests and enforcer of the rules of hospitality. However, xenia is based on a set of societal obligations and reciprocal benefits that can lead to mutual respect and alliances, not just upon fear of divine retribution; friendship could certainly emerge from these relationships.

Answer 2

It is based on obligation, not on friendship.

Step-by-step explanation:

Xenia is an ancient Greek belief/ concept of extending hospitality to others, especially strangers. It is this belief that will hold many respectable relationships in Greek culture and even still practiced by some people in the modern world.

In both the Greek culture and the book "The Odyssey" by Homer, the concept of Xenia is presented or practiced. The question is asking which is not true of this concept, so the concept that is not true will be that Xenia is based on religious obligation and not friendship. This is false because, Xenia is based on both religious and friendship obligations, not just one alone. Xenia allows people to be hospitable to one another which can continue for generations, thus, merging with the friendship obligation.

The failure to show xenia can incur the wrath of Zeus is true for Zeus is believed to be the patron of the very concept.

Xenia involves the reciprocal guest-host relationship of hospitality is true because it is about the two parties' relationship of showing hospitality towards one another, the host waiting for the guest to be comfortable before he can ask questions and the guest has to make sure they do nothing wrong against their host. They are also expected to show the same hospitality whenever needed in the future.

Odysseus violated the code of xenia on the island when he was a guest of the Cyclops Polyphemus by stealing his property and hurting him.