From The Odyssey "Queen Arete," he excalmed, "daughter of great Rhexenor, in my distress i humbly pray you, as also your husband and these your guests
(whom may heaven prosper with long life and happiness, and may they leave their possessions to their children, and all the honours conferred
upon them by the state) to help me home to my own country as soon as possible for I have been long in trouble and away from my friends."
Then he sat down on the hearth among the ashes and they all held their peace, till presently the old hero Echeneus, who was an excellent
speaker and an elder among the Phaeacians, plainly and in all honesty addressed them thus:
"Alcinous," said he. "It is not creditable to you that a stranger should be seen sitting among the ashes of your hearth; every one is waiting to
hear what you are about to say, tell him, then, to rise and take a seat on a stool inlaid with silver.
When Alcinous heard this he took Ulysses by the hand, raised him from the hearth, and bade him take the seat of Laodamas, who had been
sitting beside him, and was his favourite son. A maid servant then brought him water in a beautiful golden ewer and poured it into a silver basin for
him to wash his hands, and she drew a clean table beside him; an upper servant brought him bread and offered him many good things, of what
there was in the house, and Ulysses ate and drank
(from The Odyssey by Homer)
What can readers learn about ancient Greek culture based on the passage?
1. Ancient Greek royalty rarely displayed humility.
2. Ancient Greeks valued great feats over great wealth.
3. It was important in ancient Greece to show hospitality to strangers.
4. In ancient Greece, greater respect was given to a queen than to a king.