an ancient Greek (= Coine) term that means roughly "
blood pollution". The ancient Greeks belived that when blood was shed as a result of violent force, it polluted the Earth and did disrespect to the Gods. Pennace or punishment was usually imposed in cases of miasma, the most famous example being the curse placed upon the
Alkemeonid family after their slaughter of the supliants to the altar of Zeus in the fifth century BCE.