SOME DEFINITIONS
related to Ancient Religion
allegory: story describing a subject in veiled form, under the guise of a similar subject. More
self-conscious than myth.
anthropomorphism: belief that deities have human form.
ascetic: one who practices rigorous self-discipline and self-denial.
astrology: belief in the effects of the motion of heavenly bodies on human character and
destiny.
augury: divination; foretelling the future through the study of signs or omens.
auspices: in Latin, auspicium; method of divination, especially from birds, to determine the
favor or displeasure of the gods.
chthonic: dwelling in or beneath the earth; used in reference to the gods of the underworld
cosmogony: account of the origin of the universe.
cosmology: account of the structure and operation of the universe.
deify: to make a god of.
determinism: theory that human action is not free but determined, or decided, by external
forces acting on the will (also called fatalism).
divination: prediction by supernatural means of future events; interpretation of past
occurrences (includes interpretation of dreams, prophecy, auspices, augury).
dualism: theory recognizing two independent principles--e.g mind and matter, good ans
evil--in the universe.
ecstasy: state of being beyond all reason and self control; mystic, prophetic, or poetic trance.
epiphany: a manifestation, disclosure, or appearance, especially of some divine or superhuman
being.
eschatology: doctrine of the four last things; death, judgement, heaven, and hell.ritual:
rites of passage, acts of propitiation, sacrifice, fertility rites
fetishism: worship of or
reverence for inanimate objects such as lumps of wood or stones which were
believed to contain supernatural powers.
genius: in Roman religion, the guardian spirit of every man, his inborn power; the genius of the
paterfamilias (head of the family) was honored in the household cult (each woman's attendant
spirit was called juno).
gnostic: possessing special knowledge of spiritual mysteries.
mana: a mysterious magical power or influence which is attached to certain persons or to
inanimate objects.
metempsychosis: transmigration of the soul, especially the passage or the soul of the a human
being or animal into a new body of the same or a different species.
monotheism: doctrine that there is only one God.
mystery: in theology, a religious truth known only through divine revelation; a secret religious
rite to which only initiates are admitted.
mysticism: theory asserting the possibility of attaining knowledge, especially direct
knowledge of the divine, and of spiritual truth, through immediate intuition or spiritual insight.
numen: (pl. numina): spirit with power to help or harm, but without personality. (sometimes
called animism)
orgy: (adj. orgiastic): esoteric religious ritual performed in honor of a god or a goddess,
characterized by wild singing, dancing, and drinking; later, wild, drunken, licentious revelry or
festivity.
pantheism: belief that god equals the totality of nature.
pantheon: the totality of deities of any people.
polytheism: belief in or worship of many gods.
proselyte: a convent from one opinion, party, or religious sect to another. (verb: to
proselytize)
ritual: rites of passage, acts of
propitiation, sacrifice, fertility rites
shaman: priest or medicine man who has power to influence the unseen world of gods,
demons, and ancestral spirits by being in direct communication with them.
syncretism: mixing together; combining of religious beliefs from different cults; the sense that
all gods and goddess are differing manifestations on the One.
tabu (or taboo): the system or act of setting apart a person or thing as accursed or sacred;
interdiction or prohibition of the use of certain things or words or acts.
taurobolium: sacrifice of a bull; ceremony of initiation or consecration in which the recipient is
"baptized" in the bull's blood as a symbol of renewed life.
totemism: origin of
humans from animals and hence worship of animals
This material was placed on the web by Professor Thomas J. Sienkewicz for his students at Monmouth College in
Monmouth, Illinois). If you have any questions, you can contact him at toms@monm.edu.