The Odyssey Hospitality Quotes

Daydreaming so as he sat among the suitors,
he glimpsed Athena now
straight to the porch he went, mortified
that a guest might still be standing at the doors.
Pausing beside her there, he clasped her right hand
and relieving her at once of her long bronze spear,
met her with winged words: "Greetings, stranger!
Here in our house you’ll find a royal welcome.
Have supper first, then tell us what you need."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 1, lines 138-146. Telemachus is sitting among Penelope’s suitors when he spots a guest left standing at the doors unattended. Immediately he runs to greet the disguised Athena and offer supper, even before he asks his guest’s name. In ancient Greece the code of hospitality, or xenia, was regarded as a sacred duty. Note how Telemachus is the only one in the household to treat the guest with respect, there’s no welcome from the suitors.

Then he escorted her to a high, elaborate chair of honor,
over it draped a cloth, and here he placed his guest
with a stool to rest her feet.
…A maid brought water soon in a graceful golden pitcher
and over a silver basin tipped it out
so they might rinse their hands,
then pulled a gleaming table to their side.
A staid housekeeper brought on bread to serve them,
appetizers aplenty too, lavish with her bounty.
A carver lifted platters of meat toward them,
meats of every sort, and set beside them golden cups
and time and again a page came round and poured them wine.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 1, lines 152-154, 160-168. The Greek value of hospitality is emphasized when Athena, disguised as Mentes, visits Telemachus. He invites her to share in the household’s "lavish" banquet. She is given pride of place at the table, being seated on one of the best chairs and provided with a footstool.

"Zeus forbid – and the other deathless gods as well –
that you resort to your ship and put my house behind
like a rank pauper’s without a stitch of clothing,
no piles of rugs, no blankets in his place
for host and guests to slumber soft in comfort.
Why, I’ve plenty of fine rugs and blankets here.
No, by god, the true son of my good friend Odysseus
won’t bed down on a ship’s deck, not while I’m alive
or my sons are left at home to host our guests,
whoever comes to our palace, newfound friends."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 3, lines 389-398. When Athena tells Nestor that she and Telemachus must be on their way, the king insists that they stay with him for the night. Like the good host, Nestor won’t hear tell of them sleeping on a ship but offers them warm and comfortable beds in his palace in Pylos. The king is a strong believer in showing generous hospitality to visiting guests, in keeping with ancient Greek tradition.

"Strangers have just arrived, your majesty, Menelaus.
Two men, but they look like kin of mighty Zeus himself.
Tell me, should we unhitch their team for them
or send them to someone free to host them well?"

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 4, lines 31-34. Eteoneus, aide-in-arms of Menelaus, announces the arrival of Telemachus and "Nestor’s shining son" Pisistratus to the king’s palace at Lacedaemon. In a simile, the visitors are said to look like relatives of father of the gods Zeus himself. Eteoneus doesn’t show the usual Greek generosity to those who have traveled far from home, suggesting that they be sent off to someone else.

"Just think of all the hospitality we enjoyed
at the hands of other men before we made it home,
and god save us from such hard treks in years to come.
Quick, unhitch their team. And bring them in,
strangers, guests, to share our flowing feast."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 4, lines 39-42. Menelaus provides an insight into the highly valued ancient Greek practice of xenia: the law of offering hospitality to strangers. Having been treated well himself by his hosts, Menelaus in turn wants to treat his own guests well. He instructs Eteoneus, his aide-in-arms, to bring in Telemachus and Pisistratus to share in their feast.

"God of the golden wand, why have you come?
A beloved, honored friend,
but it’s been so long, your visits much too rare.
Tell me what’s on your mind. I’m eager to do it,
whatever I can do…whatever can be done."
And the goddess drew a table up beside him,
heaped with ambrosia, mixed him deep-red nectar.
Hermes the guide and giant-killer ate and drank.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 5, lines 98-105. Even the gods abide by the ancient Greek rule of hospitality. Here Calypso provides food and drink for visiting messenger of the gods, "honored friend" Hermes.

"But here’s an unlucky wanderer strayed our way
and we must tend him well. Every stranger and beggar
comes from Zeus, and whatever scrap we give him
he’ll be glad to get. So, quick, my girls,
give our newfound friend some food and drink
and bathe the man in the river."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 6, lines 226-231. Nausicaa asks her handmaids to give the wanderer Odysseus food and drink and to bathe him in the river. By doing this she is honoring the ancient Greek code of hospitality to strangers and also the god of hospitality Zeus. She shows courage by coming to the aid of a complete stranger, who happens to be male and naked. The princess may also be developing an attraction to Odysseus.

"The gods of Olympus can’t be all against this man
who’s come to mingle among our noble people.
At first he seemed appalling, I must say –
now he seems like a god who rules the skies up there!
Ah, if only a man like that were called my husband,
lived right here, pleased to stay forever…
Enough.
Give the stranger food and drink, my girls."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 6, lines 266-272. After Athena transforms Odysseus’ appearance, making him more handsome and attractive, the improvement is not lost on Nausicaa. Gazing in wonder at Odysseus, she wishes that she could marry a man like Odysseus. Nausicas shows great kindness to the stranger, asking her attendants to provide him with food and drink.

"I’ll show you the very palace that you’re after –
the king lives right beside my noble father.
Come, quietly too, and I will lead the way.
Now not a glance at anyone, not a question.
The men here never suffer strangers gladly,
have no love for hosting a man from foreign lands."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 7, lines 32-37. Athena, in the disguise of a young girl, offers to show Odysseus to Alcinous’ palace. She warns him not to expect any great welcome, for the inhospitable Phaeacians are somewhat xenophobic and suspicious of strangers.

"This is no way, Alcinous. How indecent, look,
our guest on the ground, in the ashes by the fire!
Your people are holding back, waiting for your signal.
Come, raise him up and seat the stranger now,
in a silver-studded chair,
and tell the heralds to mix more wine for all
so we can pour out cups to Zeus who loves the lightning."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 7, lines 189-195. An elder of the Phaeacians, Echeneus, calls on Alcinous to treat their guest Odysseus well. He asks that he be seated on one of their best chairs and for more wine to be poured out to honor the god of hospitality Zeus.

Hearing that,
Alcinous, poised in all his majesty, took the hand
of the seasoned, worldly-wise Odysseus, raised him up
from the hearth and sat him down in a burnished chair,
displacing his own son, the courtly Lord Laodamas
who had sat beside him, the son he loved the most.
A maid brought water soon in a graceful golden pitcher
and over a silver basin tipped it out
so the guest might rinse his hands,
then pulled a gleaming table to his side.
A staid housekeeper brought on bread to serve him,
appetizers aplenty too, lavish with her bounty.
As long-suffering great Odysseus ate and drank.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 7, lines 198-210. Odysseus is given the royal treatment by Alcinous, who give him pride of place in his son Laodamas’ seat. A maid provides water so that Odysseus can wash his hands, while a housekeeper serves him food and drink on a shining table.

"But at dawn we call the elders in to full assembly,
host our guest in the palace, sacrifice to the gods
and then we turn our minds to his passage home,
so under our convoy our new friend can travel back
to his own land – no toil, no troubles – soon,
rejoicing, even if his home’s a world away."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 7, lines 224-229. Alcinous makes an important announcement to the lords and captains of Phaeacia. He tells his people that they will meet first thing in the morning to help Odysseus get back to his homeland. Alcinous shows himself to be a very generous host, even before he knows Odysseus’ identity.

"This stranger here, our guest –
I don’t know who he is, or whether he comes
from sunrise lands or the western lands of evening,
but he has come in his wanderings to my palace;
he pleads for passage, he begs we guarantee it.
So now, as in years gone by, let us press on
and grant him escort. No one, I tell you, no one
who comes to my house will languish long here,
heartsick for convoy home."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 8, lines 30-38. In The Odyssey Alcinous is one of those characters who religiously observes the ancient Greek rules of a good host. Addressing the people of Phaeacia, he urges them to provide passage to Ithaca for Odysseus who is heartsick for home.

"Come, my people!
Haul a black ship down to the bright sea,
rigged for her maiden voyage –
enlist a crew of fifty-two young sailors,
the best in town, who’ve proved their strength before.
Let all hands lash their oars to the thwarts then disembark,
come to my house and fall in for a banquet, quickly.
I’ll lay on a princely feast for all."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 8, lines 38-45. Even though this at point Alcinous doesn’t know who his guest Odysseus is, he asks his people to prepare a ship with a crew of fifty-two sailors for him. He then summons everyone back to his palace for a princely banquet in honor of Odysseus.

"And tell me your land, your people, your city too,
so our ships can sail you home – their wits will speed them there.
For we have no steersmen here among Phaeacia’s crews
or steering-oars that guide your common craft.
Our ships know in a flash their mates’ intentions,
know all ports of call and all the rich green fields.
With wings of the wind they cross the sea’s huge gulfs,
shrouded in mist and cloud – no fear in the world of foundering,
fatal shipwreck."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 8, lines 623-631. King Alcinous personifies the magical ships in his fleet, as he offers one of them to take Odysseus and his men home. Alcinous suggests that his ships have minds of their own, can read the intentions of their crew, and know all the ports of call. The gift of the ship is an example of the extraordinary hospitality offered to Odysseus when he lands on the island of the Phaeacians. Hospitality is one of the most important themes in The Odyssey.

"But since we’ve chanced on you, we’re at your knees
in hopes of a warm welcome, even a guest-gift,
the sort that hosts give strangers. That’s the custom.
Respect the gods, my friend. We’re suppliants – at your mercy!
Zeus of the Strangers guards all guests and suppliants:
strangers are sacred – Zeus will avenge their rights!"

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 9, lines 300-305. Odysseus pleads with Polyphemus to honor the Greek custom of hospitality due to guests, so important to the gods. The god of hospitality Zeus avenges the rights of guests, Odysseus warns Polyphemus. However, Odysseus will soon learn that the Cyclops have little respect for or fear of the gods. Nor have they interest in being king and generous to strangers.

"Away from my island – fast – most cursed man alive!
It’s a crime to host a man or speed him on his way
when the blessed deathless gods despise him so.
Crawling back like this –
it proves the immortals hate you! Out – get out!"
Groan as I did, his curses drove me from his halls
and from there we pulled away with heavy hearts,
with the crews’ spirit broken under the oars’ labor,
thanks to our own folly…no favoring wind in sight.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 10, lines 79-87. King Aeolus denies Odysseus and his men hospitality because they squandered his gift of the bag of winds. Giving them their marching orders, he describes Odysseus as the most cursed man alive. And many would agree!

She opened her gleaming doors at once and stepped forth,
inviting them all in, and in they went, all innocence.
Only Eurylochus stayed behind – he sensed a trap…
She ushered them in to sit on high-backed chairs,
then she mixed them a potion – cheese, barley
and pale honey mulled in Pramnian wine –
but into the brew she stirred her wicked drugs
to wipe from their memories any thought of home.
Once they’d drained the bowls she filled, suddenly
she struck with her wand, drove them into her pigsties,
all of them bristling into swine – with grunts,
snouts – even their bodies, yes, and only
the men’s minds stayed steadfast as before.
So off they went to their pens, sobbing, squealing
as Circe flung them acorns, cornel nuts and mast,
common fodder for hogs that root and roll in mud.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 10, lines 253-268. Circe’s offer of hospitality becomes Odysseus’ men’s worst nightmare. The enchantingly beautiful goddess uses trickery to lure them into her lair only to turn them into pigs. While she may not eat her guests like the Cyclops and Laestrygonians, she feeds them drugged food. She is a predatory temptress who uses her potions and powerful magic to ensnare men and transform them into animals. The only one to escape is Eurylochus, he smells a rat and doesn’t follow the others into Circe’s house.

The bathing finished, rubbing me sleek with oil,
throwing warm fleece and a shirt around my shoulders,
she led me in to sit on a silver-studded chair,
ornately carved, with a stool to rest my feet.
A maid brought water soon in a graceful golden pitcher
and over a silver basin tipped it out
so I might rinse my hands,
then pulled a gleaming table to my side.
A staid housekeeper brought on bread to serve me,
appetizers aplenty too, lavish with her bounty.
She pressed me to eat. I had no taste for food.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 10, lines 403-413. Circe lays on lavish hospitality for her new guest and lover Odysseus. She bathes him in a tub with hot water and rubs him over with oil. Then she sits him on an ornate chair and has her housekeeper serve him up a bounty of bread and appetizers.

"no more tears now, calm these tides of sorrow.
Well I know what pains you bore on the swarming sea,
what punishment you endured from hostile men on land.
But come now, eat your food and drink your wine
till the same courage fills your chests, now as then,
when you first set sail from native land, from rocky Ithaca!
Now you are burnt-out husks, your spirits haggard, sere,
always brooding over your wanderings long and hard,
your hearts never lifting with any joy –
you’ve suffered far too much."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 10, lines 503-512. Circe invites Odysseus and his men to enjoy their fill of food and wine after the harrowing ordeals they have endured at sea and on land. A tempting offer too good to refuse! She uses a metaphor to compare the worn-out soldiers to "burnt-out husks."

"Phaeacians! How does this man impress you now,
his looks, his build, the balanced mind inside him?
The stranger is my guest
but each of you princes shares the honor here.
So let’s not be too hasty to send him on his way,
and don’t scrimp on his gifts. His need is great,
great as the riches piled up in your houses,
thanks to the gods’ good will."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 11, lines 381-388. Queen Arete is hugely impressed by Odysseus’ stories from the underworld, which have held the Phaeacians spellbound. She asks all the princes to be generous with their gifts to Odysseus and not be too quick to send him on his way.

"And so it will be" –
Alcinous stepped in grandly – "sure as I am alive
and rule our island men who love their oars!
Our guest, much as he longs for passage home,
must stay and wait it out here till tomorrow,
till I can collect his whole array of parting gifts.
His send-off rests with every noble here
but with me most of all:
I hold the reins of power in the realm."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 11, lines 394-402. Alcinous commands that Odysseus rest in Phaeacia one more day before leaving for Ithaca. The hospitable king promises him many fine parting gifts.

"Alcinous, majesty, shining among your island people,
make your libations, launch me safely on my way –
to one and all, farewell!
All is now made good, my heart’s desire,
your convoy home, your precious, loving gifts,
and may the gods of Olympus bless them for me!
May I find an unswerving wife when I reach home,
and loved ones hale, unharmed."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 13, lines 42-49. Odysseus’ ally King Alcinous helps him by providing him with a ship to sail home to Ithaca. Odysseus thanks Alcinous for the passage home and his generous gifts. He looks forward to being reunited with his unswervingly loyal wife Penelope when he reaches Ithaca. Loyalty is one of the most important virtues in Homer’s epic poem.
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