Deified

To be Deified is to treat or worship someone or something as a god. It signifies elevating an individual, object, or concept to a divine status, attributing to them supernatural powers, reverence, and adoration typically reserved for deities. This process can involve formal religious practices, artistic representations, or simply through cultural admiration and folklore. Deification often involves a transformation, real or perceived, where the subject transcends ordinary human limitations and becomes an object of intense veneration. It's the ultimate form of exaltation, signifying a complete elevation to a divine sphere. The object may have been recognized for doing heroic deeds, or possess exceptional talents or achievements.

Deified meaning with examples

• The ancient Egyptians Deified their pharaohs, believing them to be living gods who maintained cosmic order and ensured the prosperity of the land, constructing elaborate temples and pyramids in their honor and offering sacrifices to sustain them in the afterlife.
• In many indigenous cultures, certain animals, like the eagle or the jaguar, were Deified for their strength, wisdom, or connection to the spirit world, representing powerful forces of nature to be respected and appeased through rituals.
• Some communist countries during the 20th century effectively Deified their political leaders, presenting them as infallible and all-knowing guides whose pronouncements were to be obeyed without question, creating a personality cult.
• In certain artistic movements, particular figures or symbols are Deified as representations of abstract concepts like beauty, liberty, or truth, becoming powerful icons that inspire devotion and emotional response in viewers.