Xenia–The Ancient Art of Hospitality
Updated: 2 days ago
Map of Homer’s The Odyssey
By Julie Sisk | July 19, 2026
With Christopher Nolan's adaptation of The Odyssey opening nationwide today many have been discussing some of the central themes of Homer’s epic work. I too have found myself thinking back to my Vassar classical mythology class and vaguely remembering that one of the main themes in the poem was hospitality.
After rereading some of the poem and doing a bit of research, here is what I know:
In The Odyssey, hospitality is considered a dual moral obligation. It functions as a divine contract wherein hosts were expected to provide strangers with shelter, food, and gifts, while guests had to remain respectful and avoid overstaying their welcome.
Most of us remember The Odyssey as a tale of adventure. Shipwrecks. Monsters. Gods. A long and difficult journey home. And maybe a love story.
But in the midst of all that, there is this recurring theme of hospitality.
Throughout the epic, Odysseus encounters all kinds of hosts. Some welcome him generously, offering food, shelter, guidance, and friendship. Others exploit, deceive, or endanger their guests. Again and again, Homer returns to this question:
How do we treat strangers when they arrive at our door?
The ancient Greeks had a word for this relationship between host and guest: xenia. It wasn't merely good manners. Being a good host was considered a sacred responsibility. A traveler far from home was vulnerable. A host was expected to provide comfort, protection, and generosity not expecting anything in return.
The concept of xenia was a foundational cultural institution ingrained in the actual fabric of ancient Greek society, and Homer utilized it as a literary device to serve as the moral framework of his poem.
Reading The Odyssey today, it's remarkable how often a person's character is revealed not by what they say, but by how they welcome others. Homer repeatedly uses hospitality as a test of character. Before you know whether someone is civilized, trustworthy, or dangerous, you see how they treat a stranger.
Of course, the most memorable instance of this is when upon returning to Ithaca, Odysseus disguises himself as a lowly, beggar. This stripping of his royal status forces everyone on his island to reveal their unfiltered character. I don’t know if Homer was the first to use this device but he certainly was not the last! There are probably thousands of instances of this device utilized in all subsequent art forms.
Why is this concept capturing my attention? I realize that of course, hospitality sits at the center of what we're building at Take2Film.
Yes, we help people attend extraordinary film festivals. We arrange hotels, screenings, dinners, conversations, and experiences. But what matters most to me is something less tangible.
Many of our travelers are attending these festivals for the first time. Cannes, Venice, London, and Toronto can be exhilarating—but they can also feel overwhelming. There are unfamiliar customs, complicated schedules, and the sense that everyone else somehow knows where they're going.
Our role is to be your host.
To introduce you to the city. To help you understand the culture surrounding the festival. To connect you with people who make the experience richer. To ensure that when you arrive, you feel welcomed rather than intimidated.
The more I travel myself, the more I believe that memorable travel isn't dictated by the places we visit. It's defined by the people who welcome us when we get there.
Nearly three thousand years after Homer first told the story of Odysseus's journey, that lesson still feels relevant.
Every traveler deserves a good host.
And every great journey begins with a warm welcome.
– Julie
