Xenos (Greek)

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/xenos-greek

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the ancient greek term?Xenos (ξένος)
2. What is the core meanings?Stranger, foreigner, enemy, guest-friend
3. What does the word 'xenos' mean in ancient Greece?In ancient Greece, 'xenos' originally meant a stranger or foreigner. It could be someone who was unknown and sometimes looked at with suspicion.
4. Why were strangers sometimes seen as dangerous in early Greek stories?Because a stranger was outside the familiar social circle, people were unsure of their intentions and could feel threatened.

Xenos: An ancient Greek word encompassing stranger, foreigner, enemy, and the honored guest-friend.
Xenia: The ancient Greek institution of reciprocal hospitality, a sacred duty governed by Zeus.
Zeus Xenios: The Greek god Zeus, specifically revered as the protector of guests and the practice of hospitality.
Oikeios: A Greek term referring to 'one's own' – family, friends, or members of one's community.