Noah Schoonveld
Mrs. Kelley Bailey
World literature
December 13, 2016
Xenia in The Odyssey Zeus, the ruler of the Olympians, the God of the Sky and thunder, was at the epicenter of Ancient Greek Mythology. Those who worshiped the many Greek gods and goddesses would try to emulate and embody the many characteristics of Zeus, one of them being xenia, The Ancient Greek concept of hospitality. Xenia plays a crucial role throughout Homers The Odyssey. Starting in the very first book, Telemachus is seen opening up his father’s palace to Athena, And later in what might be the greatest display of xenia, Alcinous opens his kingdom to Odysseus. Xenia is so important In the Greek culture, because it develops a mutual understanding and trust between …show more content…
Wiping ones feet before entering someone’s home or a house warming gift are both examples of modern day xenia. Though clearly on a smaller scale than what is seen in The Odyssey, xenia is still present.

In the famous African author, Chinua Achebe’s book Things Fall Apart, there are many instances of xenia that parallel what is seen in The Odyssey. Just as they are in Greek culture, greetings are highly valued in the Ibo culture, the failure to properly great someone, or to rush a greeting can be a sign of disrespect, just as Polyphemus rushed his greeting with Odysseus and his men. Ibo xenia is on display when Okonkwo's neighbor Okoye comes over.
"One day a neighbor called Okoye came in to see him...“I have kola,” he announced when he sat down, and passed the disc over to his guest.“Thank you. He who brings kola brings life. As he broke the kola, Unoka prayed to their ancestors for life and health, and for protection against their enemies"(Things Fall Apart 1. 7-10)
The way in which the Ibo break the kola, is in a way how the Greeks would share gifts with one another when meeting. Through just these two examples it is clear to see that xenia in Greek culture influenced African culture nearly 2,000 years