Xenia
/ˈziːniə/noun
In ancient Greek culture, hospitality shown to guests, or the guest-friendship relationship itself.
Did you know?In Homeric Greece, xenia was treated as a divine contract under Zeus Xenios, which is why hospitality could carry the weight of religion, politics, and vengeance all at once.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ǵʰóstis
“guest, stranger, host-guest relationship”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ξένος (xénos)
“guest, stranger, foreigner, host-friend”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ξενία (xenía)
“hospitality; guest-friendship; gifts and obligations between host and guest”
Late Latin
Latin
xenia
“gifts for guests; hospitality offerings”
Modern English
English
xenia
“hospitality, especially in reference to ancient Greek custom”