Euhemerism

The Historical Theory of Mythology

Arjuna trying to hold back Krishna

Euhemerism is an approach to the interpretation of myths in which accounts are presumed to have originated from real historical people or events. Euhemerism supposes that historical accounts become myths as they are exaggerated in the retelling, accumulating elaborations and alterations that reflect cultural expectations. It was named for the ancient Greek mythographer Euhemerus, who…