Hospitality roots from Greece

A short passage out of my book PUT YOUR PEOPLE FIRST.
This is taken out of Chapter 14 Where do we come from?

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Going back in time, there are interesting stories from Greek and Norse mythology explaining the original purpose of hospitality.
 
In ancient Greece, the cradle of European intellect, Zeus was often called “Zeus Xenia”, the protector of the traveler. Philoxenia is the Greek word for hospitality. Philo means “I am fond of/I love” and Xenia means “the unknown guest”.
 
Philoxenia consists of two basic rules:
 

• The respect from host to guest. The host must be hospitable to the guest and provide them with food and drink and a bath, if required. It is not polite to ask questions until the guest has stated their needs.
• The respect from guest to host. The guest must be courteous to the host and not be a burden. 

Xenia was considered to be particularly important in ancient times when people thought gods mingled among them. If someone had played host poorly, there was the risk of incurring the wrath of a god disguised as a stranger.
 
As a fond lover of the Greek style of hospitality (and their food), I find that even today these two rules apply. The Greeks are famous for their hospitality and temperament, right? I have experienced, as a Greek island hopper, invitations to weddings, feasts or even overnight stays in Greek homes. As long as you treat the Greeks with respect and honor, you will be treated as royalty.