Friday, December 16 th, 752 BC Est. 900 BC Price 22 Drachma Mind Your Manners Hospitality- A Greek Tradition Greek etiquette may be found to be surprising to most people due to its kindness towards strangers. As seen in Homer's The Odyssey, Menelaus and the Cyclopians welcome their guests with open arms. This is mainly because of one main belief, that the gods are always watching. The Greek gods were known to disguise themselves as beggars and wanderers in order to test the virtue of the men they visited. Even if a stranger was not a god, the hosts enjoyed special protection from Zeus in return for their hospitality. Furthermore, normal beggars and wanderers were often given a meal at the local noble's home in order to gain the satisfaction of Zeus. Our reputation for hospitality is something of great pride and joy to our people and it is a necessity to all thriving civilizations. Odysseus and the Cyclopians In The Odyssey, an inhospitable character is a crass savage. With no laws or form of governing in place, clearly the Cyclopians have little to no civilization. Cyclopians did not care for one another or for the gods, but each commanded his own household. Cyclopians are both inhospitable and barbaric. When Homer describes how the Cyclopians treat Odysseus and his men, he describes the creature as crass and immoral. Polyphemus reveals his lack of refinement and breaking the code of hospitality by eating his guests as supper instead of serving them. Members of the Asscoiated Press. Sarah Mantel Jordan Ryan Wera Terhaag Hannah Lane ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY NEWSPAPER The Ithica Gazette

As punishment for being inhospitable, Odysseus blinds Polyphemus. My advice based on the civilization of the Cyclopians would be to have a form of structure for civilization in place. Meaning, a society should have laws and follow them, hospitality to all being one of them. Unlike the Cyclopians’ way of living the, Greeks placed extreme emphasis upon material things and material wealth. The amount of gifts and food one gives to a stranger determines the nature of the host. The way the Cyclopians lived without hospitality was not appropriate in comparison to the Greeks. The Red-Headed Menelaus Menelaus is another example of our renowned reputation for hospitality. He values hospitality, as one should, saying he would never have made it home from Troy if he hadn’t been shown hospitality. The hospitality that Menelaus offers is described as being as generous as he is wealthy. He hurries to welcome his guests, reminding a comrade of how he was offered much hospitality on his way home from Troy. Menelaus wanted to set an example of the perfect host. He made sure his men took care of the horses and that they had fed them with barley and wheat. He also took care of the chariot before he ushered the two guests into the palace. Telemachus and the youngest son of Nestor, were then washed by women, rubbed down with oil, clothed in new clothes, and made respectable for company. They were then lead into the dining halls and seated at places of great honor, near their host. A maid brought a golden pitcher and a silver basin, and they again washed their hands. After a table arrived, bread and appetizers were served as well as various different meats. Menelaus instructed them to eat and drink their share and then talk about their quest. The following morning, Menelaus and Telemachus talk about Odysseus. Telemachus finds out that, according to Menelaus, his father is still alive. At the end of their talk Menelaus offered Telemachus a valuable gift. He offered to give him horses for Telemachus’ journey. Telemachus politely refused the gift, saying horses are impractical for him on this small island. Menelaus is fascinated with his guest’s politeness and good sense. Menelaus decides to give him something else instead. Instead of horses Menelaus gives Telemachus a gift he thinks he will have use of: a silver-mixing bowl. Hospitality is one of the most sacred part of our culture. We must never forget that the stranger we help today, may be our helper the tomorrow.