Ancient Greeks practiced a ritual known as pharmakos, a form of scapegoating used to cleanse cities facing hardship. This practice involved identifying and expelling a marginalized person, subjecting them to humiliation, physical abuse, or, in some instances, execution. The ritual was believed to purify the community during times of plague, famine, civil strife, or religious impurity. The term “pharmakos” originates from the Greek word “pharmakon,” signifying something that could be both a remedy and a poison. This practice represents an early historical example of assigning blame to an individual to alleviate collective anxieties. Historians view the pharmakos ritual as a disturbing yet revealing insight into ancient Greek societal beliefs and crisis management. The ritual highlights the lengths to which communities went to restore order and appease perceived divine displeasure.