Ospitalità e ostilità. Un dramma antico ancora attuale

When we talk about hospitality, where do we start from? Are there cultural and religious resources that, more than others, have shaped these experiences? If they exist, what traditions in Europe have most influenced our conceptions and practices of hospitality? In the research hypothesis carried out by the article, the universe of hospitality is traced back to two main narratives: the Indo-European and the Abrahamic. Although different, these two traditions offer a joint indication: in Europe and beyond, conceptions and practices of hospitality have not infrequently intersected with hostile conceptions and practices. The strongest embrace of peace can be followed by the most radical rejection. The research reviews some of the urges to give hospitality - urges that certainly have a cultural-historical conditioning - to indicate possible common traits, to look for the presence of constants that characterize hospitable practices.