Xenia Then and Now
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
The ancient Greeks valued a specific type of friendship known as xenia, which we might call “hospitality.” The moral code of xenia dictated how guests and hosts should treat each other. The host was expected to be kind and welcoming to the guest, only inquiring about the stranger’s background once food and shelter had been provided. The guest, in turn, would show the host respect and never take advantage of them. Additionally, both parties would exchange gifts. This idea of guest-friendship was exemplified through Greek mythology; authors, such as Homer, used xenia as central themes in their works.
In Homer’s The Odyssey, xenia is a life-saver for the protagonist, Odysseus. Even after spending years fighting in the Trojan war, Odysseus’ troubles never seem to end; his ships are destroyed in a storm during his voyage home. He washes up on the shores of the island Phaeacia, barely alive, and is discovered by Nausicaa, the daughter of the Phaeacian king. In a particularly compassionate application of xenia by Nausicaa, Odysseus is brought to stay as a guest in the king’s palace. The king, Alcinous, plays the role of a perfect host; he encourages Odysseus to rest and eat before asking his identity. Odysseus himself is a respectful and undemanding guest. In this story from The Odyssey, Homer demonstrates the power and significance of guest-friendship in ancient Greece. Following the principles of xenia saves Odysseus’ life and allows him to establish an important and beneficial friendship with the king, Alcinous. The actions of Odysseus, Nausicaa, and Alcinous embody the perfect guest-host dynamic and display each character’s impressive moral caliber.
Even if the concept of xenia is somewhat foreign to a modern reader, Odysseus’ plight should sound somewhat familiar. In recent years, violence in Syria has forced millions of Syrians to flee from their homes and seek safety in other countries. Many Americans have observed and sympathized with their struggles from afar; however, the matter of granting asylum in the U.S. to the refugees suggests a proximity to the Syrian conflict that not all Americans are yet comfortable with. While the Syrian refugee crisis seems to be a more complex matter than Odysseus’ shipwreck, the two stories bear similarities.
Odysseus is a refugee himself; he is driven to foreign shores by a violent force that is beyond his control and forced to seek safety in another country. Comparing the Syrian refugee crisis to The Odyssey naturally requires a comparison in the application of xenia in both situations. How successful have Americans and Syrian refugees been in respect to the application of xenia?
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
According to World Vision, there are about 5 million Syrian refugees who have fled the country.[1] Over the past six months, the United States has admitted just 44 refugees.[2] In his presidential campaign in 2015, Trump had stated, “We have no idea who these people are. . .This could be one of the great Trojan horses... We cannot let them into this into this country, period.” [3] This attitude towards refugees is starkly different from that of the Ancient Greeks. While Alcinous was willing to accept a complete stranger into his country and show extreme compassion and hospitality towards him without first interrogating him, our own country refuses to receive displaced people on grounds of uncertainty. Much like Odysseus, refugees who have been given asylum in the United States do not seem to come with harmful intentions: according to research done under the New American Economy’s (NAE) funding, crime rates in cities in which refugees have settled have not increased in the slightest.[4] The fear of becoming involved in conflicts occurring in other parts of the world is understandable—however, this does not excuse the United States’ acceptance of a mere 44 refugees as part of our so-called contribution towards a critical humanitarian response to violence in Syria.[5] In juxtaposition to the xenia of Ancient Greece, the xenophobia of our modern world seems barbarous.
Notes
[1] World Vision Staff. "Syrian Refugee Crisis: Facts, FAQs, and How to Help." World Vision. April 16, 2018. Accessed May 17, 2018. https://www.worldvision.org/refugees-news-stories/syrian-refugee-crisis-facts.
[2] Koran, Laura. "US Admitted Just 44 Syrian Refugees in Last 6 Months." CNN. April 18, 2018. Accessed May 17, 2018. https://www.cnn. com/2018/04/18/politics/us-syria-refugees/index.html.
[3] Kopan, Tal. "Donald Trump: Syrian Refugees a 'Trojan Horse' - CNNPolitics." CNN. November 16, 2015. Accessed May 17, 2018. https://www.cnn. com/2015/11/16/politics/donald-trump-syrian-refugees/index.html.
[4] "Is There a Link Between Refugees and U.S. Crime Rates?" New American Economy. February 7, 2017. Accessed May 21, 2018. https://research. newamericaneconomy.org/report/is-there-a-link-between-refugees-and-us-crime-rates/.
[5] Koran, "US Admitted Just 44 Syrian Refugees in Last 6 Months."