euhemerization

Etymology
From, ultimately from , from , 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.

Noun

 * 1)  The fanciful invention of plausible historical figures and events as an attempt to explain away mythology and legends;  an instance of this.
 * : the actual creation of mythology and legends from historical figures and events; an instance of this.
 * : the actual creation of mythology and legends from historical figures and events; an instance of this.
 * : the actual creation of mythology and legends from historical figures and events; an instance of this.

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 and.

Synonyms

 * See &