Christopher Vogler The Writers Journey
suffering god or king. Tragedy comes from the word "tragos" or goat, because goats
were often used as sacrificial stand-ins for the yearly sacrifice of the king.
T h e Purgation phase of seasonal rituals was marked by cleansing the body
and the environment as much as possible. People would bathe and anoint themselves
with oil to symbolize the shedding of an old skin from the previous season. Houses
and temples would be cleansed with water and fumigated. Bells and gongs would be
rung to chase out unclean spirits. Fireworks have been used in China for centuries
for this purpose.
Purgation was both metaphorical and literal in these ancient societies. M e n
tally and metaphorically, people were supposed to purge themselves of sour feelings,
resentments, jealousies, and so on. But they were also supposed to cleanse the body
of impurities by fasting and even by inducing vomiting.
annaabi.ee 
