Although the ancient Greeks and modern-day Americans had different practices of hospitality, some of their traditions are similar. Many examples of Greek culture, including hospitality, were presented in Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey." This essay will compare the factors of hospitality between the beliefs of the ancient Greeks displayed in the Odyssey and modern hospitality. In ancient Greek, being hospitable was essential. Not only was it a religious duty to be hospitable, but everyone was expected to be hospitable to guests. In the article “Welcoming: A Religious Duty,” he quotes: “Hosts had a religious duty to welcome strangers and guests had a responsibility to respect hosts. The relationship is often symbolized in the Odyssey by the giving of gifts. (Welcome: A religious duty). Guests could include almost everyone, from friends and family to complete strangers. It was not uncommon for travelers to take refuge in the house of a complete stranger. In the Odyssey, Odysseus says to a Cyclops: “It was our good fortune to come here; we are here, indebted for your help or any gift you give - as is customary to honor strangers. (Homer 9.170-172.1115). as if it wasn't enough to have a house to stay in, the guests were waiting for gifts, as Odysseus had previously shown. It appears that the gifts would be valuable items, but not all gifts were tangible items. For example, the Greeks' knowledge of current events was vague because there was no information system, so in exchange for accommodation the newcomer could give information to his disconnected hosts. An example of this is when Odysseus is at the court of King Alcinious and tells the king about the obstacles they encountered while trying to return home to Ithica. Because... middle of paper... his guests were taken care of. (Wikipedia). In the Odyssey, Odysseus demonstrates how hospitality is considered a divine right in lines 173-175 where he quotes: “We beseech you, great sir, to take care of the courtesy of the gods; Zeus will avenge the harmless guest. (Homer 9. 173-175.1115). Odysseus basically says that if the “Great Gentleman” is not hospitable to his guests, he will be punished. The two cultures seem strikingly similar in some ways, but they are also different from each other. Both cultures believe in hospitality and both must meet the needs of their guests to be hospitable. On the other hand, the ancient Greeks considered hospitality a religious obligation, whereas in today's society it is considered the right thing to do. Ancient Greeks and modern-day Americans have diverse cultures when it comes to hospitality, but in many ways they are similar..