Greek EtiquetteBy: Presley Davis

Do NOT Malignantly take advantage of the host’s hospitality.

“But if you decide it is more profitable and better to go on, eating up one man’s livelihood, without payment, then spoil my house” –

Book I, Line 376.“all their days, they come and loiter in our house and sacrifice our oxen and our sheep and our fat goats and make a holiday feast of

it and drink the bright wine recklessly. Most of our substance is wasted.” –Book 2, Lines 50-58.

“the heart within him scandalized that a guest should still be standing at the doors. He stood beside her and took her by the right hand, and relieved her of the bronze

spear” – Book I, Lines 118-124

Do not make your guest wait on you to welcome them.

GIFT GIVNG. Don’t allow your guests to simply leave without a gift!

“..Go back to your ship with a present, something prized, altogether fine, which will be your keepsake from me, what loving guests and hosts bestow on

each other” Book 1 Lines 311-313

Praise the gods and goddesses!

“My guest, make your prayer now to the lord Poseidon....All men need the gods. Hear us, Poseidon, who encircle the earth, and do not

begrudge us the accomplishment of all these actions for which we pray you.” -Book II Start: Line 43

Make sacrifices to the gods for they are great.

Pylos... where the people lined the beaches, sacrificing sleek black bulls to Poseidon, god of

the sea blue mane who shakes the earth. -Book III, Line 5

Do Not Blame or challenge a god for something you have caused yourself, because They can

control anything.

“Oh for shame, how the mortals put the blame upon us gods, for they say evils come from us, but it is they, rather, who by their own recklessness win

sorrow beyond what is given..” –Book I, Lines 32-34“Never once did the wind fail, once the god had set it blowing.”-3.182-183)

“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.”

–Book 4, Lines 38-42

Strangers are the same as any other guests. Welcome them and provide for them your

consent.

Do Not Speak falsely to anyone especially to those who are hosting you!

‘As for that other one, I will not tell you the whole story whether he lives or has died. It is bad to

babble emptily.’ (4.836-837)

Welcome your guest to bathe, and enjoy the condiments with you!

“A maidservant brought water for them and poured it from a splendid and golden pitcher, holding it above a silver basin for them to wash.. A gave

housekeeper brought in the bread and served it to them adding many good things to it, generous with her provisions, while a carver lifted platters of all

kinds of meat and set them in front of them, and placed them the golden goblets, and a herald, going back and fourth, poured the wine for them..” –

Book I, Line 136-143

Question your guest after you care for them and feed them!

Afterward, when you have tasted dinner, you shall tell us what your

need is.-Book I, Line 123

Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Richard Lattimore. New York: HarperColllins Publishers,

1967. Print.

Works Cited