the secondary meaning of an oppressive or horrid atmosphere | in greek the word means 'pollution.' it had the power to corrupt and destroy a whole society, it was a corrosive force beyond almost the power of physics that could only be purged with sacrifice. death, blood, menstrual blood, fratricide, matricide all released the 'pollution' of miasma. why was the ancient city of thebes so cursed? incest, patricide etc etc.....