euhemerization

English

Alternative forms

• euhemerisation (UK)

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)

1. (uncountable, derogatory) The fanciful invention of plausible historical figures and events as an attempt to rationalize mythology and legends

   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.

   1. (countable) an instance of this

      One such euhemerization is a Rowan Atkinson bit where he presents Jesus Christ as a misunderstood street magician.

2. (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: Oxford University Press, 2022.
• "euhemerism" in Prof. D.K. Jordan's "Mini-Glossaries" (27 Jan. 2011)