English

Noun

harrowing of **** ‎(plural harrowings of ****)

1. (mythology, theology) A raid into the underworld by a heroic figure.
   • 1977, Raphael Werblowsky, Joseph Karo: lawyer and mystic, 2nd ed. edition, page 44:

     Not the direct vision of the harrowings of **** as reported, for example, by many Christian visionaries, but accounts given by the departed souls themselves are more frequent and typical features of Jewish moralist writing.

   • 2003, Robert J. Andreach, Drawing upon the Past: Classical Theatre in the Contemporary American Theatre, page 36:

     Of the four harrowings of **** that are cornerstones of Western literature […] , we can eliminate the oldest.

   • 2007, Sophie & Michael Coe, The True History of Chocolate, page 39:

     […] the Hero Twins go on to defeat Xibalba and its ghastly denizens, a true Harrowing of ****.

Usage notes

• This phrase often specifically denotes the freeing of the souls of the dead from the underworld by Christ between his death and resurrection.

Translations

References

• Catholic Encyclopedia