Definition: Hellenism

From New World Encyclopedia

Etymology

Either via French hellénisme or Latin or directly from Ancient Greek Ἑλληνισμός or Hellēnismós (imitation of the Greeks), from Ἕλλην or Héllēn (a Greek).

Noun

Hellenism (countable and uncountable, plural Hellenisms)

  1. Any of the characteristics of ancient Greek culture, civilization, principles and ideals, including humanism, reason, the pursuit of knowledge and the arts, moderation, and civic responsibility.
  2. The modern-day revival of the polytheistic religious system of Ancient Greece.
  3. The national character or culture of Greece.
  4. The culture and civilization of the Hellenistic period.
    1. The admiration for and adoption of ancient Greek culture, ideas and civilization.
  5. A Greek idiom or turn of phrase.

Related terms

  • Hellas
  • Hellen
  • Hellene
  • Hellenic
  • Hellenist
  • Hellenistic
  • Hellenistical
  • Hellenization
  • Hellenize
  • Hellenizer

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