he poor or uncivilized could not accommodate guests. The richest and most prestigious of Homeric society gave the best food and most expensive parting gifts. Giving good hospitality was the best thing ancient Greeks could do to please the gods.
             One instance of the role of hospitality in the Odyssey occurs early on in the epic when Telemachus secretly set off to find Nestor. Upon first sight of Telemachus and Athene and without any inquiries about who they were, Nestor's son Peisistratus invited them to the banquet that was in progress. It was not until after Telemachus and Athene had had their fill of food and gotten comfortable that they were asked who they were and where they came from. It seems to have been a common gesture of courtesy in ancient Greek culture to offer guests food and entertainment before attending to business.
             Telemachus visits the palace of Menelaus and Helen in book IV, only to find that they are celebrating the weddings of his son and lovely daughter. Telemachus feels impolite to stay, as it is a family gathering. Menelaus invites him in and orders his servents to unleash the horses and bring the
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