King Menelaus’ Mistake

Xenia is the term for the ancient Greek concept of hospitality and was central to the characters’ dealings in Homer’s ancient epics. Dictated with specific rules, the concept of xenia was sacred to the Greeks and violations could bring about not only the wrath of your compatriots, but the wrath of the gods.

A particularly intriguing section of The Odyssey featuring the guest-host contract is that in which Telemachus and his men are guests of King Menelaus of Sparta. Although it is true that Menelaus predominantly acts the proper host and provides his guests with all they require and more, there are several egregious errors made during his household’s hosting of Telemachus. When Telemachus first arrives at Menelaus' gate, the palace is in the midst of a double wedding festival and the aide-in-arms makes an unforgivable mistake in asking the king if they should welcome the strangers or send them on; according to xenia, all strangers should be welcomed lest they be a god in disguise! The transgressions continue as the lady of house, Helen of Sparta (proving her legacy of beauty and not brains) outs the guests’ identities before they have completed their meals and decided to introduce themselves. It is a great misstep to pronounce your guests’ identities and the guests should have remained anonymous, even if recognized, until they chose to reveal themselves. It becomes up to Pisistratus, Nestor’s son, to set things right after Helen’s mistake and Menelaus’ lack of reprimand to her. It should be noted that Nestor is the prime example of a perfect host and it is not insignificant that only Nestor’s son, a guest at Menelaus’ home himself, is able to set things right in this scene.

Finally, when Telemachus and his team are readying to leave, Menelaus makes another two mistakes before the guests depart. In ancient Greek culture it was considered very bad form to prolong your guests’ stay if they wish to be on their way, as Nestor, our consummate host, realized. Menelaus, however, requests: “But come, my boy, stay on in my palace now with me, at least till ten or a dozen days have passed.” (Book 4, Lines 660-662) Telemachus is on a journey and Menelaus should recognize this and not insist his guest linger, keeping him from his purpose. Secondly, with the parting gift of a horse and chariot, King Menelaus chooses a very poor present for his guest. As Menelaus knows, Telemachus is from the rocky island of Ithaca where horses and chariots are not practical and that Telemachus came by ship and could obviously not transport the horses and chariot over sea. It is lucky for our loveable but doofy Menelaus that Telemachus is full of such grace and tact and Menelaus manages to escape the fiasco with his pride, and Telemachus, with a bowl.