euhemerization
Plural: euhemerizations
Noun
- The fanciful invention of plausible historical figures and events as an attempt to rationalize mythology and legends
- The fanciful invention of plausible historical figures and events as an attempt to rationalize mythology and legends
- an instance of this
- Synonym of deification: the actual creation of mythology and legends from historical figures and events; (countable) an instance of this.
Examples
- 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.
- One such euhemerization is a Rowan Atkinson bit where he presents Jesus Christ as a misunderstood street magician.
- The euhemerization of Taoist myth by Confucian historians sometimes led to the appearance of figures such as "Lord Primordial Chaos" (渾沌氏) in the imperial genealogies.
Origin / 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.
Synonyms
deification, rationalization & pseudohistory
Scrabble Score: 0
euhemerization: not valid in Scrabble (US) TWL Dictionaryeuhemerization: not valid in Scrabble (MW) Merriam-Webster Dictionary
euhemerization: not valid in International Collins CSW Dictionary
Words With Friends Score: 0
euhemerization: not valid in Words With Friends