xenos and the hiketes suppliant research pitch
Excerpt from Analysis Proposal:
In addition to the diplomatic relationships proven between the Ancient greek poleis, in the frame in the political arena, there were as well the units made between persons, generally high raking members with the ruling classes: “there was a fine-meshed network of personal interactions between visible persons in the different urban centers based on ‘guest friendship’ (xenia): two friends (xenoi) via different poleis could assurance to house that help each other whenever they were inside the polis of wither of them” (Hansen, 127). This was the case of Telemachos acquiring in Pylos. After he had exposed his intensions and the goals of his trip, Nestor offered him his advice and material support as a outward exhibition of the companionship and reciprocal aid the leaders of different Greek urban centers often used to provide each other because of reciprocity.
By an unsaid law, xenia progressed in becoming a great institution, like, for example , inside the city of Eretria that: “could pass a decree saying that a called citizen in the city-state of Taras needs to be proxenos for all your citizens of Eretria whom found themselves in Taras” (Hansen, 127). Hansen even more explains the institution was comparable to the ultra-modern institution of the consulate.
The propriety of guest friendship was additional asking Nestor, in his command position and as a brain of the house, to provide his guests not only foodstuff, drink, suggestions and support on their journey, but also a shelter till they kept. As he exclaims when they want to return to all their ships for the night: “heaven and the immortal gods” (Odyssey, III) will be requesting him to go against sb/sth ? disobey such a profanity and gives them bed frames in his individual house. The laws of hospitality were thus portrayed not only as arrangements between human beings, but since commands of a higher authority, the gods. Not stable by these laws it would not only imply a breech of an unwritten contract, but also a profanity. It appears to be similar to if one could disregard the proper ritual of morning and burial habit. The manifestation of xenia goes as far as Nestor giving Telemachos among the highest indications of respect: this individual offers his own little girl, Polykaste, to bathe and then outfit Telemachos. The consequences of xenia will be thus even more evident, because the representative of the leadership of the city is offering his daughter to the conceivable leader of an allied town, resembling the alliances between the royal process of law in the western world. Almost all along, the mission Telemachos is in is combined with the true blessing of the gods, by the occurrence of Athene along his side. She’s even exhibiting herself to his allies when the lady finds it required to point out that he is safeguarded by the gods.
All in all, the propriety of guest a friendly relationship was not simply a customized of the Ancient greek cities through the Helenic and classical periods, but it was obviously a law made by incredibly considerations of existence. The civilized universe was characterized by trading, migration, alliances and so they were likely only beneath the circumstances of xenia.
Functions Cited:
Hansen, M. L. Polis: an introduction to the ancient greek language city-state. Oxford University Press, 2006
Gill, C. Postlethwaite, N. Seaford, R. Reciprocity in Historic Greece. Oxford University Press, 1998
Homer, tr.
