As one rolls to a halt at a stop light and catches sight of a rugged-looking vagabond, some immediately turn the other way, as if they never saw the beggar, some might simply glimpse at the man in sympathy but immediately assume that the person will squander the money on alcohol or cigarettes, and there's also the few exceptions who will pull some extra change, forgotten at the bottom of a purse or consol and give it to him to avoid uncomfortable stares or perhaps even because of some deep down compelling urge. This sad description, unfortunately is how many Americans treat this situation every day. As we open the gates to a new millennium, our society as Americans can be viewed as prosperous and recovering at incredible speeds from the staggering external blow America took last year on September eleventh. However, it seems that the greater part of Americans have seemed to overlook the incredible, genuine hospitality of Ancient Greeks. A quintessential example of this overwhelming kindness to unknown strangers can easily be discovered in The Odyssey, written by a supposedly blind poet named Homer. This ancient transcript reveals a substantial amount of Greek lives and daily habits performed throughout the epic poem. As one journeys with Odysseus, a perfect example of an epic hero, one can absorb and learn this great hospitality through his encounters with other people that he meets on his voyage to his homeland, Ithaka.
             The great Odysseus' son Telemakus, even as a young man, respects and treats unknown strangers like gods, as was by custom thought by Greeks that strangers might be gods in disguise testing mens' morals. As Telemakus was holding a feast for the greedy suitors competing for his mother's hand in marriage, Athena, goddess of wisdom, came to his household in disguise, Telemakus immediately welcomed and invited the unknown stranger in, "Greetings, stranger! Welcome to our feast." ...