Meaning & use
Katabasis
Last updated
A journey or descent into the underworld, especially as a recurring theme in mythology and literature.
See it in a sentence
Odysseus's katabasis in the 'Odyssey' takes him to the land of the dead to seek guidance.
Scholars often compare the hero's katabasis to a symbolic journey of psychological transformation.
A note on using this word
"Katabasis" comes from the Greek word for "a going down," and its opposite, "anabasis," describes a journey upward or a military advance.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
anabasis
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Katabasis”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.