| Conventions of the Homeric Hospitality Scene |
|
| Oral poets tend to rely on stock scenes
and characters. Homer builds hospitality scenes into many of the books in The Odyssey.
The average scene has six main elements (arrival, reception, feast, identification, entertainment, and departure) with a number of related smaller scenes. Telemachos' reception of the disguised Athena in Book 1 and Eumaios the swineherd's reception of the disguised Odysseus and Telemachos are classic moments with most of the elements surrounding true hospitality. Homer even uses such scenes as the encounter with the Kyklopes Polyphemos and the witch Kirke as ironic plays on hospitality. Polyphemos' capture and eating of the sailors acts as an anti-scene. Note the elements below with their related scenes. The chart records when each is present. |
Bk 1 Athena |
Bk 3 Nestor |
Bk 9 (Anti) Polyphemos |
Bk 10 (Quasi) Kirke |
Bk 13, 15 Eumaios |
|
Arrival Maiden at the well/ Youth at the door Reaching one’s destination Descriptions of the surroundings – the residence, person sought, etc. Dog at the door Waiting at the threshold Supplication |
X
X |
X X |
X X
X |
X X
X X |
X XX XX
XX XX |
Reception Host catches sight of visitor Host hesitates to offer hospitality Host rises from his seat Host approaches the visitor Host takes the visitor by the hand Host bids the visitor welcome Host takes the visitor’s spear Host leads the visitor in |
Athena X
X X X X X |
Nestor X
X X X |
Polyphemos X
X |
Kirke
X
X |
Eumaios XX -X XX -X -X -X XX |
Feast Seating Preparation of the feast Consumption of the feast Conclusion to the feast (After-dinner drink) |
Athena X X X X |
Nestor X X X X |
Polyphemos
X X X |
Kirke X X X X |
Eumaios XX XX XX XX X- |
Identification Host questions visitor Visitor reveals identity Establishment of xenia* Exchange of information *In this case, the relations upon which hospitality is established. |
Athena X X X X |
Nestor X X X X |
Polyphemos X X
X |
Kirke X X
X |
Eumaios XX XX XX XX |
Entertainment Festivities Visitor pronounces blessing on the host A libation or sacrifice Sleep, Bed, Bath Host detains the guest |
Athena X X
X X |
Nestor X X X X X |
Polyphemos
X X |
Kirke
X X |
Eumaios X- X- X- X- XX |
Departure Guest-gifts Departure meal Departure libation Farewell blessing Omen and interpretation Escort to visitor’s next destination |
Athena X |
Nestor
X |
Polyphemos X X X X X X |
Kirke
X X |
Eumaios XX
XX |
adapted from Reece, Steve. The Stranger’s Welcome: Oral Theory and the Aesthetics of the Homeric Hospitality Scene. Ann Arbor: U of Michigan P, 1993.