1. The theory that myths and legends about gods and heroes originated from accounts of real historical people whose deeds were exaggerated or idealized over time.
Usage: Named after Euhemerus, a Greek mythographer; Primarily used in academic and scholarly contexts

Examples

• According to euhemerism, the god Zeus may have been based on a powerful ancient king whose exploits were magnified by storytellers.
• Scholars have applied euhemerism to explain how legendary figures like King Arthur might have roots in actual historical persons.
• The euhemerism approach suggests that many mythological characters were once real humans whose stories evolved into divine narratives.
• Critics of euhemerism argue that not all myths can be reduced to distorted historical accounts.
• Euhemerism offers one framework for understanding how cultures transform historical events into religious and mythological traditions.