Food and lives in the odyssey and sundiata essay

Princeton’s Wordnet identifies hospitality because “[the act of] cordial reception: [or] kindness in welcoming friends or strangers. ” Because the start of this semester, we certainly have read about two different excursions in which food plays a crucial role in fulfilling the destiny of the main personality. In Homer’s Odyssey, various examples of this kind of are noticeable, whether they are for the power or the demise of the protagonist Odysseus. However , Odysseus is usually not the only one whom food rules. His son Telemachus also is troubled by his hospitality towards others.

In Niane’s Sundiata: A legendary of Aged Mali, the theme of food runs solid throughout the story, as Sundiata is considerably affected by how the other character types receive him. If it are not for the hospitable functions shown to both these styles the tired travelers, Odysseus and Sundiata may not have been completely able to return to their homeland.

The extreme observation of hospitality in the two texts might be compared with the golden regulation: treat other folks, as you would want to be cured.

The rule of hospitality may also be applied to the gods. In the time of Odysseus, gods or deities can take the form of humans or perhaps alter man appearance. When a stranger came along at your door, you might not know whether they will be mortal or immortal. In the event you turned apart a our god or someone loved by the gods, this may anger them and in turn that they could avenge your inhospitable act. The gods might respond with not offering you a good collect or choose your life an entire hell, because Poseidon did to the journey of Odysseus.

Good food was to be displayed towards everybody, no matter age group or gender. In The Journey, not only was Odysseus treated well by lords in the lands he visited, however his youthful son, Telemachus, was cared for with respect. In Sundiata, hospitality has not been only confirmed towards guys, but as well women. Once Sassouma forced Sogolon in exile, the neighboring lands and kings she and her kids encountered remedied them with kindness.

In The Odyssey many hospitable acts had been displayed just before kings even knew who had ventured to their land. The moment Telemachus travels to Pylos seeking info on his dad, King Nestor treated him and Pallas Athena with much esteem. As they contacted the citadel King Nestor and his son spotted these people. “As shortly as they saw the strangers, all arrived crowding down, urging them to sit. Nestor’s son Pisistratus, first to get to them, appreciated their hands and sitting them down at the party on fleecy throws” (Homer 108, lines 39-44). This demonstrates how welcoming the Pylians will be towards unknown people. This is truly a hospitable handmade because the Pylians were not merely carousing around, but in truth were involved with a banquet in honor of the god Poseidon. They asked these overseas guests in as if these were members from the royal family to take part in the feast.

Menelaus, like Nestor, treated his guest as part of the royal family members before learning their titles. Menelaus supplied Telemachus and Pisistratus with food but is not just any food however “He passed them a fat rich loin with his own hands, the choicest part, that he’d been offered himself” (Homer 126, 74-75). The Greeks loved to enjoy and what an honor it would had been to be offered the kings slab of meat. He also acquired women bathe them, apply them with petrol, and provide them with warm fleece and shirts to wear.

Prior to Telemachus was to leave, Menelaus insisted about giving him many items but Odysseus’ young child respectfully decreased any such presents. Menelaus insisted on giving him a mixing bowl forged to perfection made from solid silver precious metal with a lips of gold made by Hephaestus himself (Homer 144, 692-694). The food shown by simply Menelaus is a superb example of treating others as you may would like to always be treated. Menelaus, the great and lustrous king, showered his guest while using best of anything, as he may have wanted performed for him.

Not only in The Odyssey and ancient Greece was hospitality shown to strangers, it also occurred in Sundiata. The initial stop on the exile journey of Sundiata was Djedeba. The king there received them with a little mistrust, but mentioned that everywhere the stranger likes the right to food (Niane 29). The stick with the california king of Djedeba lasted two months and not much is mentioned inside the novel of what was provided to Sundiata great family. However the stay with Djedeba emphasizes the purpose that though someone might be wary of allowing strangers to remain with them, the take action of hospitality is allowed to all other people who need lodging.

Those who were members of the highest interpersonal class weren’t the only kinds expected to practice hospitality. Hospitable acts may be practiced by and towards all social classes. When Odysseus returned to Ithaca, Athena disguised him by dressing him in beggar clothes. She described him towards swineherd’s institution. The swineherd had to preserve the king from his beastly puppies and after this asked him in to his residence. The swineherd, Eumeaus, advised Odysseus, “It’s wrong, my buddy, to send any kind of stranger packing-even one who arrives in even worse shape than you” (Homer 303, 64-65). Odysseus advised him, “May Zeus and the other gods give you your hearts desire for the royal welcome you may have shown me personally here” (Homer 303, 60-62). The hospitality that was shown on the beloved ruler no doubt delighted the gods.

Even though the swineherd could not provide the extravagant baths, bedding, and food of kings, he still offered Odysseus the very best of what he had. Odysseus was invited by the swineherd to take a seat on a pile of clean and sticks covered with all the skin of your shaggy untamed goat, which was the swineherd’s own good bedding. This individual fed the king scrawny pigs that were freshly slaughtered. This was the best food which can be offered by the swineherd for the reason that suitors whom overran the property of Odysseus took the fattened pigs. The hospitality shown by swineherd demonstrates that one would not have to offer the best of circumstances to show food towards unknown people.

Hospitable serves were not anticipated only to be shown for the living, but the deceased deserved the same legal rights. In Sundiata, when it arrived time to leave Mema and return to Mali, Sogolon died. Sundiata believed to the king, “King, you gave me hospitality at your court when I was without shelter…In any circumstance, allow me to bury my mom before We go” (Niane 46). The king was outraged that Sundiata desired to leave his country and at first declined. But possibly it was dread, or out of respect he had for Sundiata, or possibly a combination of both equally, Sundiata got his would like. Burial argument were provided for Sogolon near your vicinity of Mema. Showing food towards the lifeless is as crucial towards showing it towards living.

Hospitality was not to go unnoticed both; hospitable serves were expected to be refunded when the period arose. A great example of repaying hospitality originated from Menelaus. Telemachus and Nestor’s son appeared outside the gates of Menelaus’ house and head of the family Eteoneus works through the acc�s and gives the news to the battle-hardened full and ask, “Should we unhitch their staff for them or send these to someone liberal to host all of them well”(Homer a hundred and twenty-five, 33-34)? Menelaus responds hastily, “Just imagine the hospitality we enjoyed at the hands of other men just before we caused it to be home…And take them in strangers, guest, to share our flowing feast”(Homer a hundred and twenty-five, 38-39, 41-42). Menelaus would like to show the same hospitality to the people who visit his land just like the rulers showed him when he was in need.

Politics alliances as well proved to be good situations to train hospitality. One of many stops on the exile journey of Sundiata and his family members was the place of Bekwai, ghana. When they showed up they were welcomed by the king’s brother who have made them comfortable and brought drinking water for them to chill their desire. After Sogolon explained in which they were by and for what reason they were in exile the king, Soumamba, responded, “No one has at any time found the hospitality seeking. My court docket is the court and my structure is yours” (Niane 34). The reason for easy welcoming from the strangers was your history of the relationship between Mali and Bekwai, ghana. The full also said to his sibling, “Brother, look after our friends. Let Sogolon and her children end up being royally remedied and coming from tomorrow allow the princes of Mali sit down among our children” (Niane 34).

Another hospitable act in Sundiata, which engaged alliances between nations, occurred again in Mema. This kind of alliance had to do with the family members relationship of two nobleman. Upon their very own arrival at Mema, the sister from the king greeted Sogolon and her along with housed these questions wing from the palace. These people were recommended simply by Soumaba to come to Mema, after showing the king of Mema, Moussa Tounkara, a letter from Soumamba the king explained, “My relative Soumaba advises you and that may be enough. You are at house. Stay below as long as you wish” (Niane 36). Sundiata started to be so precious by the persons and the king that he became viceroy and even anchored a spot while heir to the throne of Mema. This can be example of food starts out like a friendly gesture, and evolves into a fresh set of hierarchal position pertaining to the touring family. The hospitality shown by the people of Mema allowed the exiled regal family of Mali to become just about citizens of this new region.

The action of food is common in both Odyssey and Sundiata. Not only do kings of locations and countries practice this kind of act, nevertheless hospitality can be expected to end up being practiced by simply everyone irrespective of their social class. Hospitality should be shown towards everyone regardless how the two parties affiliate marketer with one another. Food goes along way inside the stories of Odysseus and Sundiata. It creates relationships with lands that others dread, like the area of Bekwai, ghana in Sundiata. It also produces relationships with those who have zero prior relationships to those of foreign gets, like Telemachus creates with the comrades of his father. If only this type of hospitality was prevalent in society today our world is a much more friendly and reckless place to live.

Fagles, Robert. The Odyssey. New York: Penguin, 1996.

Niane, D. T. Sundiata: an Epic of Older Mali. Harlow: Longman, 2006.

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