The Value Of Hospitality During The Iliad And The Odyssey

In Homeric society, hospitality was highly valued by all members of the society. The value of hospitality was shown in The Essential Homer: Selections from the Iliad and the Odyssey by the main character Achilles in his interactions with various other characters in the story. Achilles was welcoming to visitors to his home by offering them refreshments, dinner, and a place to rest. Showing your hospitality to guests like Achilles did in the Iliad demonstrated how hospitality in this time period defined the place of humanity in the cosmos. Before focusing directly on Achilles in the Iliad, it is important to identify why hospitality was important to the Ancient Greeks. Two reasons being hospitable is important to the Ancient Greeks is because it shows respect for guests in someone’s household, and travelling in that time period took much longer than today. For the Ancient Greek’s, respect and honour is everything. When someone comes to your home the way to show your re spect for them is by providing whatever they need after a long journey. Since in ancient times there were no cars, planes, or trains, many people had to walk or ride horses to get around. Due to this, people would be tired, hungry, and thirsty when they arrived at a given location. By being hospitable, a homeowner would show respect for their guests and give them the necessary refreshments to carry on their journey. In the Iliad, Achilles understands the importance of being hospitable and is welcoming toShow MoreRelatedIliad and Odyssey1825 Words   |  8 Pagesand cinema of a certain era. The epic poems, The Iliad and Odyssey, give scholars and historians an idea how the Ancient Greek lived their everyday lives. By reading the two novels, the reader is able to experience the three thousand years old society of Homer. 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