The Greek god Zeus is sometimes called Zeus Xenios in his role as a protector of guests. He thus embodied the religious obligation to be hospitable to travelers. Theoxeny or theoxenia is a theme in Greek mythology in which human beings demonstrate their virtue or piety by extending hospitality to a humble stranger (xenos), who turns out to be a disguised deity (theos) with the capacity to bestow rewards. These stories caution mortals that any guest should be treated as if potentially a disguised divinity and help establish the idea of xenia as a fundamental Greek custom.[1]
Source: Xenia (Greek) – Wikipedia
Tim B.
“Xenia consists of two basic rules:
– The respect from host to guest. The host must be hospitable to the guest and provide him/her with food, drink, bath and gifts when they leave. It is not polite to ask questions until the guest has finished the meal provided to them.
– The respect from guest to host. The guest must be courteous to the host and not be a burden. The guest should also provide a gift if they have one.[2]”
Tim B.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenos_(Greek)
Tim B.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospitium
Tim B.
“In the Middle Ages, the term was extended, across Europe, to refer to the building or complex of buildings attached to a monastery, where pilgrims and other lesser guests could find hospitality or hospitium, including dormitory-based accommodation. “