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What does nostos reveal about the importance of homecoming in the Odyssey?

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Sixteenth-century engraving by Hieronymus Wierix depicting Homer, shown as an older man with a beard and laurel wreath, wearing a draped garment. — Odyssey: A Reader’s Guide to Homer’s Epic Engraving of Homer by Hieronymus Wierix, 16th century; in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

In the Odyssey, nostos—the Greek concept of homecoming—is far more than a simple return; it represents a profound struggle to restore moral and social order. The importance of this theme is highlighted by the contrast between Odysseus and the hero Agamemnon. While Agamemnon returns home quickly only to be betrayed and murdered, Odysseus’s prolonged journey emphasizes that a true homecoming requires the hero to reclaim his identity, reestablish his kingship, and reunite with his family.1

The necessity of this return is underscored by the chaos left in Odysseus’s absence. The suitors’ abuse of xenia—the sacred code of hospitality—by consuming his wealth and disrespecting his household serves as a direct threat to the stability of Ithaca. Consequently, nostos is portrayed as a moral imperative; it is not merely about reaching a physical destination, but about the hero’s responsibility to purge injustice and restore his household. Through his perseverance and the support of Athena, Odysseus’s successful nostos reaffirms the values of loyalty and divine justice, proving that homecoming is essential to the preservation of social and familial integrity.12