xenia

(ξενία). See hospitium in the Appendix.

(ξένια). (1) Presents that it was customary among the Greeks and Romans for a host to give or send to his guests, as a mark of hospitality and friendship (Pliny , Epist. vi. 31, 14), consisting, for the most part, of delicacies for the table; as may be collected from the thirteenth book of Martial, which is inscribed with the title Xenia, and relates chiefly to articles of food.

(2) Pictures of still-life, such as dead game, poultry, fish, fruit, vegetables, etc. (Vitruv. vi. 7, 4; Philostrat. Imag. i. 31, ii. 25); so termed because they represented such objects as a host sent in presents to his guests. Many pictures of this kind have been found among the paintings of Pompeii, one of which is given under pictura.