In the second entrance of the palace, at the southeast end of the courtyard lies a building known as the "Guest House". It was two storied and situated next to the palace; it had an interior staircase and decorative frescoes. The space were the king hosted his guests should be worthy of his regal authority since hospitality was, and still is, sacred in Greek culture, either ancient or modern the times. It illustrates the elevated Greek culture of philosophy and virtue. Besides, the chief of the twelve gods, lightning-bearing Zeus, was the patron of hospitality and that's why he was called "Xenios" (from the Greek word "xenos", stranger, guest). Thus, taking care of guests was sacred and their mistreatment was considered a sin and disrespect to the god. The guest house of the Megaron would host officials, messengers, representatives or ambassadors of other rulers who came to meet the king. The act of accepting guests was called "hestian" or "xenizein", words that survived through the centuries symbolizing the same values placed in our contemporary world.
The rules of hospitality created deep bonds between hosts and guests. Upon arrival, the "xenos", had to address wishes of prosperity and good fortune to the host. The host had to offer food and accommodation, clean clothes and take care of his guest's entourage and horses. After the visitors had rested at the guest house to recover from the hardships of their journey, they were taken to the hearth and placed at the sacred cycle of the house to be introduced to the king and explain who they were and what they wanted. Upon their departure, the host bid farewell by offering gifts that would remind them of their stay and the hospitality they received.
