“The Odyssey” Reading Response
Words: 963 Pages: 3 6590In his encounter with Polyphemus, Odysseus justifiably broke the law of xenia as evidenced by his ulterior desire to visit the cave, his plunder of the host’s cheese, and his blinding the one-eyed giant with a wooden beam. Xenia is the concept of hospitality, courtesy, and generosity shown to guests and travelers. Worried that an unknown traveler may be a powerful god in disguise, ancient Greeks strived to follow the law of xenia with any foreigner or guest they encountered. […]