An Ancient Theory of Religion: Euhemerism from Antiquity to the Present (Routledge Monographs in Classical Studies)

An Ancient Theory of Religion examines a theory of religion put forward by Euhemerus of Messene (late 4th―early 3rd century BCE) in his lost work Sacred Inscription , and shows not only how and why euhemerism came about but also how it was― and still is―used. By studying the utilization of the theory in different periods―from the Graeco-Roman world to Late Antiquity, and from the Renaissance to the twenty-first century―this book explores the reception of the theory in diverse literary works. In so doing, it also unpacks the different adoptions and misrepresentations of Euhemerus’s work according to the diverse agendas of the authors and scholars who have employed his theory. In the process, certain questions are raised: What did Euhemerus actually claim? How has his theory of the origins of belief in gods been used? How can modern scholarship approach and interpret his take on religion? When referring to ‘euhemerism,’ whose version are we employing? An Ancient Theory of Religion assumes no prior knowledge of euhemerism and will be of interest to scholars working in classical reception, religious studies, and early Christian studies. Cover 1 Half Title 4 Title Page 6 Copyright Page 7 Dedication 8 Table of Contents 12 Acknowledgments 14 Introduction 16 1 Euhemerus’s Euhemerism 30 2 Before Euhemerism 48 3 Returning to the Sources 66 4 Euhemerism and Atheism 88 5 Euhemerus, Divine Kingship, and Irony 108 6 Citing the Citations: Anti-‘Pagan’ Euhemerism and Identity Formation 130 7 Turning the Tables: Anti-Christian Euhemerism in Celsus 154 8 Seeing ‘Euhemerism’ Everywhere 170 Afterword: On the Use and Abuse of a Theory 194 Index 199 Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Dedication -- Table of Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- 1 Euhemerus's Euhemerism -- 2 Before Euhemerism -- 3 Returning to the Sources -- 4 Euhemerism and Atheism -- 5 Euhemerism, Divine Kingship, and Irony -- 6 Citing the Citations: Anti-'Pagan' Euhemerism and Identity Formation -- 7 Turning the Tables: Anti-Christian Euhemerism in Celsus -- 8 Seeing 'Euhemerism' Everywhere -- Afterword: On the Use and Abuse of a Theory -- Index "This book examines Euhemerism - a theory of religion developed by Euhemerus of Messene in the late 4th through early 3rd centuries BCE - tracing the history and reception of the theory in antiquity and in early Christianity, where it was adopted and reshaped for particular religious and ideological reasons. It shows how and why Euhemerism arose, how it was used, and how it significantly influenced theoretical discussions of religion from antiquity onward."-- Provided by publisher An Ancient Theory of Religion examines a theory of religion put forward by Euhemerus of Messene (late 4th – early 3rd century BCE) in his lost work Sacred Inscription, and shows not only how and why euhemerism came about but also how it was - and still is - used.