Showing Xenia

Xenia means showing hospitality. The hospitality is shown to show off the wealth and power of the person showing the hospitality. You can see xenia in the forms of giving protection, shelter, favors, bathing, and feasting. Two times we see xenia in the Odyssey are when Odysseus receives clothes in a polished sea-chest, richly wrought gold, many cauldrons, and the other gifts he receives from Alcinous and his people. (Odyssey pg. 192) Another time we see xenia is after Circe promises Odysseus that she will not harm him or his men she baths and feeds them a great feast. (Odyssey pg. 151) Even though for my second example Circe didn't start out with xenia because she poisoned and turned the men into pigs she does later on show the xenia.