Ancient Greeks

Ancient Greek culture was a culture that accorded much importance to proper interactions and exchanges with others.  Xanatos, the code of hospitality in ancient Greek culture, was illustrated in this story, though not in its perfect sense.  Xanatos usually implied being a good guest or host to anyone who came to your home.  In terms of being a guest, this would mean visiting a person of the same social standing as yourself, while not being imposing or over-demanding.  In terms of being a host, this would mean being hospitable and welcoming to everyone who knocks at your door, and giving them your best civility and comfort, given that they are a person in the same social class as you.  It was an unspoken code of civility based on which one could be judged. 

Circe the goddess was briefly mentioned in the story, and she showed Xanatos to Odysseus. She was helpful to his quest, after the bad episode in which she turned his men into swine.  Once Odysseus had proved himself to be a mortal, powerful and intelligent enough to defeat a goddess in freeing his men from her spell, she treated him as an equal, provided him with comfort and rest in his home for an extended period of time, and gave him advice as to how to reach his home.  Odysseus on his part was an exemplary guest, as he regularly refused her lavish offers and did not impose her hospitality.  However, Xanatos was not directly obvious in the particular stories we explored, as Odysseus’ main contact with other characters was with the dead souls in the Land of the Dead, and he only heard the Sirens’ song.  Somehow, one can say that Odysseus was a host to the dead, as he had to implore them into his presence.  He fulfilled these duties, notably, in his preparation of a drink for the dead, and in his promising them a sacrifice once he returned home.  However, the dead souls, as guests, were not as good examples of Xanatos.  They knew that they were not all permitted to drink the blood, but they kept swarming around Odysseus to have a taste of it.  Somehow, this forced Odysseus to hold a sword over the pit of the blood.  In this situation, the role of the guest and host was inverted because instead of the dead welcoming and accommodating Odysseus, he had to do so, and go through special pains in their presence.