PRACTICE ASSESSMENT 2

The concept of Xenia has much to do with ones honour. The guest-host relationship is based on the idea that courtesy would be reciprocal from host to guest. Throughout the Odyssey we see the positive and negative forms of Xenia, for example when Odysseus is warmly invited into the land of the Phaecians or when Odysseus' men are eaten by Polyphemus. Following the rules of Xenia, whether a host or guest, shows a lot about ones honour, and shows that the person is civilised and socially-aware. This also shows the gods that they are honourable. For example, the Phaecians are favoured by the gods for their rule-abiding nature and being good hosts, this is why Athene and Ino lead Odysseus to their land. In book nine the concept of Xenia is completely broken by both Odysseus and Polyphemus. For example, when Odysseus and his mean arrive at Polyphemus' cave, they just entered and ate his food without being welcomed. And Polyphemus behaved wrongly as he ate many of Odysseus' men, his guests, as "we Cyclopes care nothing for Zeus with his aegis, nor for the rest of the blessed gods..." This shows that they both ignored the rules of Xenia. Odysseus goes about seeking his honour by giving Polyphemus some of his wine and encourages him to give them a gift, so the rules of Xenia are partly obeyed. Odysseus' audience would have been very shocked when he was telling them his story. They are the Phaecians and they care greatly for the gods and obey the rules of Xenia. For example, when Odysseus arrived on the island of the Phaecians, Nausicaa and her maids, fed and bathed him before asking of his name and where he had come from. They also kindly led him to the palace of Alcinous; this shows that they strictly follow the rules of Xenia as they are favoured by the gods for doing so.

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604135@N00/504006389/

Native American Afterlife Myth

http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/CoyoteAndTheOriginOfDeath-Caddo.html

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Head_Odysseus_MAR_Sperlonga.jpg

The underworld

http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/greekdeath/a/092909Afterlife.htm

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/34285523@N06/3226149760/

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Locri_Pinax_Of_Persephone_And_Hades.jpg

Native american afterlife

http://nativeamericanfirstnationshistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_afterlife

primary source: myhtology of the american nations, David M Jones and Brian L Molyneaux

Quote

I found a quote by Platos, from the book Lysis. Symposium. Georgias. which I am going to use in my website

Source: http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/Underworld.html

Research: Homer's Odyssey Book XI - Odysseus' Trip to the Underworld

Today I found a myth about Odysseus traveling to the underworld to find out tales of the fates of the other Achaeans after the fall of Troy and his own exploits.

Secondary Source: http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa081500a.htm
Primary Source: Homer's Odyssey, Book XI