Find two passages in The Odyssey that are examples of xenia. Compare these two passages.

Two examples of xenia in The Odyssey are Telemachus' welcomes to Pylos, Nestor's home (pp. 29-43) and Lacedaemon, Menelaus' city (pp. 44-53).  When Telemachus arrives in Pylos, there is a large-scale sacrifice to Poseidon happening. "The ship came to Pylos, Nestor's great city. Onshore, black bulls were being sacrificed to the blue-maned Lord of the Sea. Nine companies of five hundred men were each assigned nine bulls for sacrifice." (p. 28). In contrast, upon arrival in Lacedaemon, Telemachus finds that Menelaus is holding a double wedding feast. "...which they found was filled with guests. Menelaus was hosting a double wedding party for his son and his daughter." (p. 44). These two passages show that even with whatever is happening at the moment the host must show xenia or risk losing face.