euhemerism

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Euhemerism

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• euemerism, Euemerism, Euhemerism

From Euhemerus +‎ -ism, ultimately from Latin Euhēmerus, from Ancient Greek Εὐήμερος (Euḗmeros), an ancient Greek Sicilian Skeptic who proposed most or all mythology derived from historical figures and natural events which received supernatural characteristics only through retelling.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /juˈhiməˌɹɪzəm/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /juːˈhiːməɹɪzm/, /juːˈhiːməɹɪzəm/

euhemerism (usually uncountable, plural euhemerisms)

1. (uncountable) The belief that legends and mythology arise from exaggerated descriptions of historical people and events.
   • 1846, George Grote, History of Greece, volume I, page 596:

     In regard to the Thracian god Zalmosis, the Hellespontic Greeks interpreted his character and attributes according to the scheme of Euemerism.

   • 1920, Edward Carpenter, Pagan and Christian Creeds, New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., published 1921, page 10:

     Then again there was a period of what is sometimes called Euhemerism - the theory that the gods and goddesses had actually once been men and women, historical characters round whom a halo of romance and remoteness had gathered.

• historical theory, rationalism

• “Euhemerism, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 2022.
• "euhemerism" in Prof. D.K. Jordan's "Mini-Glossaries" (27 Jan. 2011)

Borrowed from French évhémérisme.

euhemerism n (uncountable)

1. euhemerism