Anthropomorphism

40,000 BCE

Anthropomorphism

Unknown

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Attributing human characteristics to non-human entities

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⬅️This lion-headed figurine, found in

Hohlenstein Stadel, Germany, is one of the oldest sculptures in the world. It is made of mammoth ivory and dates back to c. 28,000 BCE.

“Anthropomorphism – from the Greek words for “human” (anthropos) and “from” (morphe) – refers to the ancient activity of attributing human characteristics to non-human beings, such as deities, animals, vegetation, or the elements. Some of the oldest art – the Lion-Man of Hohlenstein Stadel (Germany), for example – depicts animals with human characteristics.

Shamanistic tradition, which are connected with this type of art, tend to see spirits in all things, meaning that when then attribute human characteristics to trees – calling them “dryads,” for example – they believe that a tree spirit, much like a human spirit, is the principle that helps the tree to grow and act like a human. The same applies to all, or most, of nature.

A subcategory of anthropomorphism is anthropotheism, in which higher non-human entities – the gods or God – are depicted with human characteristics. Plato (c. 424-348 BCE) charged the Greek poets with “telling lies about the gods” because they depicted gods such as Zeus acting with petty human motives, and certain biblical passages, such as those describing God’s “right hand,” have often been seen as examples of anthropotheism.” (AB) . . .

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