The Greek phrase Philoxenia, actually translated as a “pal to a stranger,” is broadly perceived to be synonymous to hospitality.
For Greeks, nonetheless, it’s a lot deeper than that. It’s an unstated cultural regulation that expresses generosity and courtesy to strangers.
Greeks are enormously beneficiant when inviting others to their dwelling or being invited themselves. In villages, it isn’t unusual for villagers to indicate up on the door of a resident foreigner (or perhaps a momentary customer renting a room) with a sack stuffed with recent tomatoes, or perhaps a bottle of native olive oil.
Philoxenia right this moment might be so simple as a smile, serving to a stranded motorist, shopping for a meal for a homeless particular person, or opening your house to family and friends.
Zeus Xenios
This cultural regulation has its origins in Historical Greece. The Historical Greek god Zeus is usually referred to as Zeus Xenios, as he was additionally a protector of vacationers. He thus embodied the spiritual obligation to be hospitable to vacationers.
The attractive story written by the Roman poet Ovid in 8 A.D of Zeus and Hermes disguised as poor vacationers, narrates the sacred relation between host and visitor, embodying the traditional Greek custom.
The 2 historic Greek Gods, the story goes, visited many villages in quest of refuge for the evening. A poor aged couple, Baucis and Philemon, welcomed them as visitors of their dwelling and generously served them meals and wine.
After refilling her visitors’ cups many occasions over, Baucis observed that the wine jug was nonetheless full. Philemon then realized the guests had been really gods, and he or she provided to kill their solely goose to feed them. Touched by this gesture, Zeus rewarded their generosity by remodeling the standard cottage into a stupendous stone temple.
Zeus additionally granted the couple their final want, specifically to be the guardians of the temple, to die on the identical time, and keep collectively for eternity, as they had been changed into bushes guarding all sides of the temple’s door.
Trojan Warfare
In accordance with legend, even an occasion as momentous because the Trojan Warfare started due to a visitor’s violation of xenia. The Trojan prince Paris was a visitor of King Menelaus of Sparta when he kidnapped Menelaus’ spouse, Helen.
Each the Odyssey and the Iliad are crammed with episodes during which xenia is both honored or ignored and the next penalties are notable. As an example, when Odysseus sails to the island of the cyclops, the monster’s therapy of Odysseus and his sailors is a violation of the customized of xenia. The cyclops is punished for the transgression. Odysseus blinds his “host” and escapes. The cyclops episode depicts an abuse of xenia.
In one other story, Odysseus’ spouse, Penelope, is pressured by customized to entertain a whole family of suitors. The visitors not solely make unreasonable, burdensome requests that had been rude for visitors however they accomplish that with the idea the host himself is not alive. The conclusion of the poem includes Odysseus’s slaughter of the suitors. This violent ending might be seen as retribution for an egregious abuse of xenia, or conversely, a violation of its very precepts.
