In a modern world like ours, it is sometimes difficult to understand special customs that were highly respected in ancient cultures. Some, however, have been able to adapt to the times and transform themselves into a decoration that can still be appreciated today. Xenia may be a perfect example. Deriving from the ancient Greeks, xenia was the religious and civil commitment to hospitality expected of all guests of the people as well as the hosts themselves. The ancient Greeks held xenia in the highest regard and believed in great consequences if the rules of xenia were abused in any way. Xenia, for them, was much more than just guidelines to follow; it was a duty that required the utmost consideration. The ancient Greeks believed that there were specific rules of xenia that had to be respected for it to be valid. The host requirements included that the host must not cause harm to the guest; they must not steal; they must not rape, seduce, or sleep with their host's wife, daughters, servants, or slaves; and must not extend beyond the period of reception at the host's residence. In turn, the host must provide food, drinks, a clean set of clothes, a washing of hands, feet or a bath, and a safe place to sleep; they must not harm their host; and must not ask the guest his name or business until all of the above requirements have been met. A clear example of true xenia is when Telémakhos and Nestor's son visit Meneláos while searching for news of Odysseus. As soon as Meneláos learns of the arrival of Telémakhos and Nestor's son, he orders his servants to provide them with everything necessary for xenia, even going so far as to rebuke a comrade in arms who had asked whether to welcome the.... .. half of the sheet ......or the complex tale of Ulysses' adventures are themes at the basis of Greek ethics, one of the most important is xenia. While the epic teaches many things about the gods and Greek culture, xenia appears over and over again and seems the most pronounced. Xenia was expected not only in the epic itself, but in the everyday life of the real ancient Greeks. The extreme hospitality and courtesy that the Greeks used to show to their guests or hosts may also be a vague model for modern civilization, where common civilization is often overlooked to be displayed. In a world full of prejudice, arrogance and animosity between people of different parties, xenia should be a very welcome idea of ​​behavior, even if it should be modified to adapt to the new world. Works Cited Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fitzgerald. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1998. Print.