Hospitality is one of the most important institutions described in the Homeric epics.

The "typical" of Homeric hospitality included a specific behavior on the part of the "host", the one who provided the hospitality, that is, towards his guest. It was preceded by the reception of the stranger in the best room of the house, the offer of a "throne" to sit on, a bath, food and drink, sometimes accompanied by a celebration, as in the case of the hospitality of Odysseus by the Phaeacians.

At the end, the questions were asked about who the "foreigner" is and what he is asking for. Next was the satisfaction of his requests, to the extent possible, of course, as well as the provision of accommodation.

The whole process was sealed by the exchange of gifts which were either kept in the "house", or were part of a wider network of "foreign" exchanges and thus reached places far away from where they were originally made.