Hospitium
1.
An inn. See
Caupona.
2.
（
ξενία, προξενία). Hospitality was one of the
characteristic features of almost all nations in the primitive period. In civilized countries
the necessity of general hospitality is not so much felt; but at a time when the State or the
laws of nations afforded scarcely any security, and when the traveller on his journey did not
meet with any places destined for his reception and accommodation, the exercise of
hospitality was absolutely necessary. Among the nations of antiquity, with whom the right of
hospitality was sanctified by religion, it was to some degree observed to the latest period
of their existence, and acquired a political importance which it has never had in any other
age. It was in Greece, as well as at Rome, of a twofold nature, either private or public, in
as far as it was either established between individuals (
hospitium
privatum,
ξενία) or between two States (
hospitium publicum,
προξενία).
The stranger who appeared with no hostile object was regarded in the light of a suppliant
and under the especial protection of Zeus Xenios. Hence he was kindly received, and on his
departure broke a die (
ἀστράγαλος,
tessera) with the host, each keeping a half for mutual recognition by themselves or by
their descendants in future times. The ties of hospitality thus formed were hereditary in
families. At Rome a stranger (
hospes) was equally protected by custom
and law, and the
tessera hospitalis was equally a pledge and a symbol of
this relation of host and guest. A formal hospitality when once declared could only be broken
off in an equally formal way by a solemn
renuntiatio. Public, as opposed
to private, hospitality was a like relation between nations and cities, who were bound to
show especial kindness to each other's citizens. See
Civitas;
Foederatae Civitates;
Politeia;
Proxenus;
Tessera.
