The Odyssey's Xenia Echoes in Today's Border Crisis The ancient Greek concept of xenia – hospitality towards strangers – has been a cornerstone of Western tradition since Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey .
This principle emphasizes the sacred duty to treat those who come to us in need with respect and kindness.
In recent months, a real life application of xenia played out in a disturbing way involving one of my former students, Alim.