Euhemerism

eu·he·mer·ism (yo̵̅o̅ hē′mər iz′əm, -hem′ər-) noun the theory of the Greek writer Euhemerus (4th cent. ) that the gods of mythology were deified human beings; theory that myths are based on traditional accounts of real people and events Etymology: ( L Euhemerus ( Gr Euhēmeros) + -ism --------------------------------------- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euhemerus One theory claims that myths are distorted accounts of real historical events.[31][32] According to this theory, storytellers repeatedly elaborated upon historical accounts until the figures in those accounts gained the status of gods.[31][32] For example, one might argue that the myth of the wind-god Aeolus evolved from a historical account of a king who taught his people to use sails and interpret the winds.[31] Herodotus and Prodicus made claims of this kind.[32] This theory is named "euhemerism" after the novelist Euhemerus (c.320 BC), who suggested that the Greek gods developed from legends about human beings.[33][32]