Homer via van Gennep : Some initiatory themes ih the Odyssey

Abstract

In both Telemachus' journey to the Peloponnese and the final battle in the hall initiatory motifs have been already recognised; in the present paper, the “Telemachy" is interpreted in terms of a young prince's initiation, where the rituals of guest friendship played an important role, whereas the bow contest for Penelope's hand is supposed to reflect a collective warrior initiation with the Suitors representing a fatherless post-war generation, which failed to be duly initiated and ended in violating the same laws of xeiníĕ.