Student Eta
What can we learn about ancient customs and manners in Homer’s Odyssey?
The book Odyssey was written by Homer and talk about Odysseus’ way back to the home which took him for ten years. Because the literal background of this book is ancient Greek, it described the customs and manners of Greek people very well; I was able to find some these things. They are “hospitality toward strangers” and “introduce their ‘roots’ during introducing oneself.”
First of all, ancient Greek people always welcome the strangers to their house. In modern times, if there were someone we don’t know come to our house, we would be conscious and aware about them; that’s our common sense. But interestingly, ancient Greek people try their best to welcome strangers first when they meet them. In book one, the grey-eyed goddess, Athena changed her shape to Mentes, the family friend of Odysseus, and went to Telemakhos’ house to give him some advices. When Telemakhos met Mentes, what he did first is let Mentes rest and offer some foods to him.
Then he(Telemakhos) said warmly: “Greetings, stranger! Welcome to
our feast. There will be time to tell your errand later.”he(Telemakhos)
seated her(Mentes) on a throne with footrest—all finely carved—…A
maid brought them a silver finger bowl and filled it out of a beautiful
spouting golden jug … A carver lifted cuts of each roast meat to put on
trenchers before the two. He gave them cups of gold, and these the
steward as he went his rounds filled and filled again. (Book 1 line
150~174)
From the quotes, we can read that how Telemakhos provided many things to Mentes. First, he welcome Mentes before he knows who is she, “Greetings, stranger! ... There will be time to tell your errand later” shows that. And Telemakhos used his the best things to Mentes, “seat her on a throne”, “footrest-all finely carved-“, “a silver finger bowl”, “a beautiful spouting golden jugs” and “cups of gold”, these are all precious and expensive things.
And in book three, Telemakhos went to Nestor’s island to hear some news about his father. At that time, Nestor and his men ate their foods. When they met Telemakhos and Athena, they provided food and wines to them before asking who are they.
He(Peisistrates) passed them bits of the food of sacrifice, and, pouring
wine in a golden cup, he said to Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus: “…
but he is just my age, you are the senior, so here, I give the goblet first
to you.” And he put the cup of sweet wine in her hand. …Meanwhile the
spits were taken off the fire, portions of crisp meat for all. They feasted,
and when they had eaten and drunk their fill, at last they heard from
Nestor, prince of charioteers: “Now is the time,”… (Book 3, line 43~79)
Nestor’s people fed Telemakhos and Athena with their meat and wine before asking who are they; “they feasted, and when they….they heard form Nestor….” Nestor started to ask after everybody feel full with their foods.
Thus, we can know that ancient Greek people have custom and manner of hospitality toward strangers.
Moreover, I found ancient Greek people tell about their parents, especially father, when they introduce themselves. For most of us, we say our name and about ourselves when introduce, but ancient Greek people were not. I think this shows that ancient Greek people think their family o their “roots” very importantly. In book one, when Mentes introduce himself to Telemakhos adter had enough rest and foods, he tell about his father with her name.
the grey-eyed goddess(Athena, now is Mentes) answered: “As you ask,
I can account most clearly for myself. Mentês I’m called, son of the
veteran Ankhíalos; … (Book 1, line 213~220)
Mentes mentioned that he is the child of the somebody, ‘son of the veteran Ankhilaos”. Her father is Ankhialos.
So, I found ancient Greek people introduce their parents to shows their “roots; when they introduce themselves.
“Hospitality towards strangers” and “Showing their ‘roots; when introducing themselves”, these are the customs and manners of the ancient Greek people that I learn from the book Odyssey.
What can we learn about ancient customs and manners in Homer’s Odyssey?
The book Odyssey was written by Homer and talk about Odysseus’ way back to the home which took him for ten years. Because the literal background of this book is ancient Greek, it described the customs and manners of Greek people very well; I was able to find some these things. They are “hospitality toward strangers” and “introduce their ‘roots’ during introducing oneself.”
First of all, ancient Greek people always welcome the strangers to their house. In modern times, if there were someone we don’t know come to our house, we would be conscious and aware about them; that’s our common sense. But interestingly, ancient Greek people try their best to welcome strangers first when they meet them. In book one, the grey-eyed goddess, Athena changed her shape to Mentes, the family friend of Odysseus, and went to Telemakhos’ house to give him some advices. When Telemakhos met Mentes, what he did first is let Mentes rest and offer some foods to him.
Then he(Telemakhos) said warmly: “Greetings, stranger! Welcome to
our feast. There will be time to tell your errand later.”he(Telemakhos)
seated her(Mentes) on a throne with footrest—all finely carved—…A
maid brought them a silver finger bowl and filled it out of a beautiful
spouting golden jug … A carver lifted cuts of each roast meat to put on
trenchers before the two. He gave them cups of gold, and these the
steward as he went his rounds filled and filled again. (Book 1 line
150~174)
From the quotes, we can read that how Telemakhos provided many things to Mentes. First, he welcome Mentes before he knows who is she, “Greetings, stranger! ... There will be time to tell your errand later” shows that. And Telemakhos used his the best things to Mentes, “seat her on a throne”, “footrest-all finely carved-“, “a silver finger bowl”, “a beautiful spouting golden jugs” and “cups of gold”, these are all precious and expensive things.
And in book three, Telemakhos went to Nestor’s island to hear some news about his father. At that time, Nestor and his men ate their foods. When they met Telemakhos and Athena, they provided food and wines to them before asking who are they.
He(Peisistrates) passed them bits of the food of sacrifice, and, pouring
wine in a golden cup, he said to Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus: “…
but he is just my age, you are the senior, so here, I give the goblet first
to you.” And he put the cup of sweet wine in her hand. …Meanwhile the
spits were taken off the fire, portions of crisp meat for all. They feasted,
and when they had eaten and drunk their fill, at last they heard from
Nestor, prince of charioteers: “Now is the time,”… (Book 3, line 43~79)
Nestor’s people fed Telemakhos and Athena with their meat and wine before asking who are they; “they feasted, and when they….they heard form Nestor….” Nestor started to ask after everybody feel full with their foods.
Thus, we can know that ancient Greek people have custom and manner of hospitality toward strangers.
Moreover, I found ancient Greek people tell about their parents, especially father, when they introduce themselves. For most of us, we say our name and about ourselves when introduce, but ancient Greek people were not. I think this shows that ancient Greek people think their family o their “roots” very importantly. In book one, when Mentes introduce himself to Telemakhos adter had enough rest and foods, he tell about his father with her name.
the grey-eyed goddess(Athena, now is Mentes) answered: “As you ask,
I can account most clearly for myself. Mentês I’m called, son of the
veteran Ankhíalos; … (Book 1, line 213~220)
Mentes mentioned that he is the child of the somebody, ‘son of the veteran Ankhilaos”. Her father is Ankhialos.
So, I found ancient Greek people introduce their parents to shows their “roots; when they introduce themselves.
“Hospitality towards strangers” and “Showing their ‘roots; when introducing themselves”, these are the customs and manners of the ancient Greek people that I learn from the book Odyssey.