Apotheosis
Also known as: deification · divinization
- 1Also known as divinization or deification.
- 2It involves the glorification of a subject to a divine level.
- 3It can apply to a human being, a living thing, or an abstract idea.
- 4The process results in the subject being treated in the likeness of a deity.
Apotheosis, also called divinization or deification, is the glorification of a subject to divine levels and, commonly, the treatment of a human being, any other living thing, or an abstract idea in the likeness of a deity.
Connections1
transformation into a god
Following his death on the funeral pyre, Heracles was granted immortality and ascended to Mount Olympus, marking his transition from hero to deity.
Apotheosis, also referred to as divinization or deification, is the process by which a subject is elevated to a divine level. This concept involves the transformation or glorification of a human being, a living creature, or even an abstract idea into the likeness of a deity. It represents the ultimate transition from a mortal or mundane state to one of eternal, sacred status.
Apotheosis of Venice (1585) by Paolo Veronese, a ceiling in the Doge's PalaceWikimedia Commons: File:Veronese-Triomphe_de_Venise.jpgThe Apotheosis of Cornelis de Witt, with the Raid on Chatham in the backgroundWikimedia Commons: File:Baen_Witt_Victor_Medway.jpgThe Apotheosis of Achilles, from the Monteleone Chariot, Etruscan, 6th century BCWikimedia Commons: File:Bronze_chariot_inlaid_with_ivory_Etruscan_2nd_quarter_of_6th_century_BCE_Found_near_Monteleone_di_Spoleto_in_1902_with_scenes_of_Achilles_(1)_(561261746).jpgApotheosis of Emperor Antoninus Pius (d. 161) and his wife Faustina the Elder (d. c. 140), base of his column in RomeWikimedia CommonsCameo with the Apotheosis of Claudius, c. 54 ADWikimedia CommonsHead of Buddha/King Jayavarman VII; probably regarded as a royal portrait, but with attributes of the Buddha.Wikimedia CommonsSebastiano Ricci, Apotheosis of Saint Sebastian, 1725Wikimedia Commons This practice reflects the human desire to bridge the gap between the earthly and the divine. By granting divine status to a subject, cultures could immortalize individuals or concepts, ensuring they were worshipped or revered long after their original existence. It remains a significant theme in mythology and history, marking the point where a figure transcends their human limitations to join the ranks of the gods.