Xenia: Odysseus' Blessing and Curse

In Homer’s “Odyssey,” Book 7, Odysseus, who has at this point lost all his men and washes up alone on the Scherian beach, has through his wit and bearing, and with the goddess Athena’s help, been accepted into the royal Phaeacian court.  Here, he throws himself at the mercy of Queen Arete, and then settles himself in the ashes.  An elder at court reminds everyone of their duty under Zeus, Xenia–guest-friendship– and they honor Odysseus the wanderer.  In fact, they offer their beautiful daughter to Odysseus in marriage.  We discuss Xenia, this all-important custom in the ancient Greek world that allowed for people to trade and travel, and which was used and abused in so many ways in Homer’s epic poem.

00:00 Xenia (Hospitality & Guest-Friendship)

01:30 Book 7 Summary

20:02 Poseidon’s Wrath for Odysseus Falls on His Hosts

29:19 The Lost Paradise of Mythology (Utopia)

33:03 Royal Cousin Marriage Among the Phaeacians

38:13 The Humanity of Odysseus

44:43 The Man Who Rejected Godhood

52:16 Achilles’ Regret

54:27 Odysseus Learns from Achilles’ Regret

56:55 The Culture Wars and Our Divine & Emanant Nature

1:01:28 Why Odysseus and Penelope Suffer