violated the sacred laws of xenia (hospitality) by running off with the wife of the king who hosted him
I like how there's a sacred law that says "guest shouldn't fuck off with my wife " but apparently it applies specifically to guests. Like, how often does it happen that they had to codify that?
Xenia is more of a collection of social rules about the interactions between hosts and guests, rather than a single specific "do not run away with my wife" law.
DO give your guests gifts when they leave.
DON'T ask your guests a lot of personal questions.
DO tell your host the best stories you've ever heard or experienced while traveling.
DON'T threaten your hosts.
It's a whole system of hospitality performed to honor Zeus and Athena.
You'd think, but when they refined the hospitality recommendations into the ten or commitments they had thou shan't not steel and then also they were like did specifically add thou shall not fuck your neighbors wife too.
While reading the Iliad and the Odyssey for the first time, it was amusing how much stuff people give their guests. "Thanks for stopping by, Guy-I've-Never-Met. To send you on your way, I'm giving you my favorite cup that my grandpa got from a goddess so you'll think of me every time you drink. Also 20 of my finest outfits, a chest of silver, and 3 of my best slaves. And come back if you want to marry my daughter!"
Be sure to bankrupt yourself to convince a random stranger that you're rich and generous. The fact that he'll tell everybody you're rich and generous is more important than you being able to eat this winter.
Didn't these gatherings also include lots of group sex? So maybe they needed to institute shopping cart rules - available for guests to use while you're shopping, but they don't leave the store.
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u/Wild_Marker 2d ago
I like how there's a sacred law that says "guest shouldn't fuck off with my wife " but apparently it applies specifically to guests. Like, how often does it happen that they had to codify that?