katabasis

Katabasis refers to a journey or descent into the underworld or a deep, often symbolic, underground realm. In mythology and literature, it describes a character's trek into a dark, mysterious world beneath the surface—like entering the realm of the dead—to face challenges, seek knowledge, or undergo transformation. This motif appears in stories such as Odysseus’s journey to the Greek underworld and Dante’s descent in the Divine Comedy. It symbolizes a process of exploration, self-discovery, or confronting fears, often leading to personal growth or enlightenment once the descent is complete.