the theory that gods arose out of the deification of historical heroes
2.
any interpretation of myths that derives the gods from outstanding men and seeks the source of mythology in history
Derived forms
euhemerist (euˈhemerist)
noun
euhemeristic (euˌhemerˈistic)
adjective
euhemeristically (euˌhemerˈistically)
adverb
Word origin
C19: named after Euhemerus (?300 bc), Greek philosopher who propounded this theory
euhemerism in American English
(juˈhimərˌɪzəm; juˈhɛmərɪzəm)
noun
the theory of the Greek writer Euhemerus (4th cent. b.c.) that the gods of mythology were deified human beings; theory that myths are based on traditional accounts of real people and events