Catabasis

The ancient Greeks and the peoples of remote antiquity already knew of journeys of the soul, but these were often journeys to the infernal regions, descents into hell, catabases, with obstacles, such as encounters with various monsters, menaces of all sorts, the crossing of the bridge of the dead or the passage of mysterious rivers on foot or on horseback.

Figure 37 also demonstrates the use of catabasis, or descending motion, in the parts for trumpets, pianos, and low strings.

The Inferno is one of the most famous examples of catabasis in the Western Tradition.