euhemerism
Americannoun
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(often initial capital letter) the theory of Euhemerus that the mythologies of various gods arose out of the deification of dead heroes.
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the theory that mythology is derived from history.
noun
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the theory that gods arose out of the deification of historical heroes
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any interpretation of myths that derives the gods from outstanding men and seeks the source of mythology in history
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of euhemerism
First recorded in 1840–50; Euhemer(us) + -ism
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It was natural that Pharaonic Egypt should have been, so far as we know, the birthplace of euhemerism.
From The Religions of Ancient Egypt and Babylonia by A. H. (Archibald Henry) Sayce
The euhemerism of the Egyptian priesthood sounded the knell of the old faith.
From The Religions of Ancient Egypt and Babylonia by A. H. (Archibald Henry) Sayce
But there is none of the dull and crass euhemerism which distinguishes the Egyptian tales of the gods.
From The Religions of Ancient Egypt and Babylonia by A. H. (Archibald Henry) Sayce
This euhemerism seems an exceedingly inadequate explanation of the origin of Zeus.
From Myth, Ritual And Religion, Vol. 2 (of 2) by Andrew Lang
Deification and euhemerism are equally natural to the Chinese.
From Hinduism and Buddhism, An Historical Sketch, Vol. 3 by Sir Charles Eliot
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
