euhemerization
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From euhemerize + -ation, 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.
Pronunciation
- (General American) IPA(key): /juˌhiməɹɪzˈeɪʃən/
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /juːˌhiːməɹɪzˈeɪʃən/
Noun
euhemerization (countable and uncountable, plural euhemerizations)
- (uncountable, derogatory) The fanciful invention of plausible historical figures and events as an attempt to explain away mythology and legends; (countable) an instance of this.
- One such euhemerization is a Rowan Atkinson bit where he presents Jesus Christ as a misunderstood street magician.
- (uncountable) Synonym of deification: the actual creation of mythology and legends from historical figures and events; (countable) an instance of this.
- Much of Chinese mythology appears to have been the result of euhemerization, the later deification of Neolithic tribal leaders and inventors incompletely remembered through oral traditions and now-lost records.
Usage notes
In general, the nonpejorative sense of euhemerization is restricted to discussion of Chinese mythology, where it is applied to the religious veneration of figures from remote prehistory and used to distinguish this from the deification of known historical figures such as Guan Yu and Huang Daopo.
Synonyms
- (fanciful creation of rational explanations for the supernatural): See rationalization & pseudohistory
References
- “Euhemerism, n.”, in OED Online
, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 2022. - "euhemerism" in Prof. D.K. Jordan's "Mini-Glossaries" (27 Jan. 2011)
