Euhemerism

Main article: Euhemerus

One theory claims that myths are distorted accounts of real historical events.^[22][23] According to this theory, storytellers repeatedly elaborated upon historical accounts until the figures in those accounts gained the status of gods.^[22][23] 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.^[22] Herodotus (5th century BC) and Prodicus made claims of this kind.^[23] This theory is named "euhemerism" after the mythologist Euhemerus (c.320 BC), who suggested that the Greek gods developed from legends about human beings.^[23][24]