The article discusses episodes of xenia in the ‛Iliad’ and ‛Odyssey’, with particular attention to both social and cultural aspects of this consuetude, and its signification for the plot and poetics of Homer’s poems. In this work, xenia is viewed as a special type of regulated and sacralized relationship. Based on the reviewed episodes, the following conclusions were drawn about the nature of the xenia between Homer’s heroes: xenia is hereditary and extends to the whole clan of heroes; xenia is also necessarily confirmed by the gifts exchange; guest-friends should support each other not only during the war but also in peaceful time; xenia is possible not only between the Greeks, but also between other nations. These episodes further confirm that the social institute of proxenia developed from guest-relations between individual members of the aristocracy and also there were close economic and political relations between the Greek world and the states of Asia Minor.