o the sea for the water. In this way, the great central river valley of China was made suitable for agriculture and the development of civilization. One quality that has been prized throughout history is that of hospitality. Before the advent of modern travelling methods, hospitality was essential for anyone who wished to make a journey. In classical Roman times, inns were disreputable places avoided by respectable travelers. For this reason, it was necessary for a person taking a voyage to stay at friends houses; hence the development of the concept of hospitium, the relation between guest and host. The story of Baucis and Philemon shows how important hospitality was in classical times. At that time, it was considered a transgression to ask an unexpected guest the purpose of his visit before taking care of all of his needs and wants. The Roman god Jupiter was the patron god of hospitality. This is an indication of the significance of courtesy and generosity to a guest, as Jupiter was the most important of all Roman gods; he was their king and leader, and he was the guardian of the sacred bond between host and guest. Jupiters anger at the disrespect shown to what was ostensibly two weary men seeking shelter is made more than clear by his harsh treatment of the wrongdoers as well as the lavish reward given to the elderly couple who made them welcome. Clearly, this tremendous emphasis on hospitality has since become archaic; nevertheless it gives us a better idea of the value system adopted by the Romans. Like most stories, the classical Roman tale of Baucis and Philemon can be related to the narratives of many other cultures. Because all literature and legends stem from the same origins, they all contain certain inevitable similitudes. Patterns of archetypes, values, and themes can be seen in writings and stories throughout history and all over the world. As well as using these patterns to study the similarities between ancient and moder...
