Expiators

Expiators are individuals or entities that undertake the act of expiation. Expiation involves making amends or atonement for a wrong or sin, typically through some form of sacrifice, suffering, or payment. The process seeks to remove guilt, restore a relationship, or appease a divine power. Expiators often believe they can wipe clean or mitigate the negative consequences of their or another's actions, striving for reconciliation or purification. They could be religious figures, historical figures, or even metaphorical representations of individuals or groups seeking to rectify past injustices.

Expiators meaning with examples

• In ancient Greek tragedies, the protagonist, often faced with a divine curse or tragic flaw, becomes the expiator, suffering immensely to cleanse their family and society of inherited guilt. Their downfall serves as a cautionary tale and a means of purifying the community. Through their painful experiences, the expiator bears the weight of past transgressions, ultimately leading to a form of societal healing.
• The priests of the temple acted as Expiators, performing rituals and offering sacrifices to atone for the sins of the people. Their role was crucial in maintaining the covenant with their deity, preventing divine wrath, and ensuring the prosperity of the kingdom. Each sacrifice was an act of expiation aimed to remove the burden of transgression and restore harmony between humans and the divine.
• Following the war, the nation's leaders became Expiators for the horrors inflicted on its own people. Through various truth and reconciliation processes, and even financial reparations, they sought to acknowledge and address the wrongs committed and ensure the safety of the citizens. They aimed to move toward healing the nation and providing justice for the victims.
• The artist, creating a massive sculpture out of recycled materials, saw themselves as an expiator for environmental damage. Their artwork, a physical manifestation of atonement, aimed to raise public awareness and inspire action toward conservation. The creation itself, in a way was an effort for them to confront their own role and that of society, in the environmental degradation.