Catabasis

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Catabasis (Greek κατα, "down" βαινω "go") is the essential epic convention of the hero's trip into the underworld. A hero is not a hero if he does not brave a catabasis. An example of a catabasis would be the descent of Orpheus into the lower world in order to charm Hades and Persephone to bring his wife, Eurydice back to the living world. Most catabases take place in the Underworld, such as the descent of Heracles, or in Hell, such as that of Dante. However a catabasis can also be other dystopic areas such as what Odysseus encounters on his 20 year journey from Troy to Ithaca.

Also, the term is sometimes used to describe the depression many young men experience while in their post-adolescent age. Author, lyricist and story-teller Robert Bly mentions in his book Iron John several reasons for the Catabasis phenomenon, amongst them the lack of western initiation rites, the lack of strong father figures and role models and consequently the rising identity confusion amongst young men.

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