ΟΜΟΙΩΣΙΣ

Definition

According to the Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon, "homoiosis" (ὁμοίωσις) primarily denotes "likeness, resemblance, imitation." The word derives from the verb "homoioō" (ὁμοιόω, "to make like, assimilate") and the adjective "homoios" (ὅμοιος, "similar, like"). In classical Greek, its initial usage was general, referring to any kind of similarity or representation, whether natural or artificial.

Its philosophical significance was largely established by Plato, who posited it as a fundamental principle. In the "Theaetetus" (176b), Plato famously states: «φυγὴ μὲν γὰρ κακῶν οὐδαμῇ ἀπολείπεται, δεῖ δὲ ἐνθένδε ἐκεῖσε φεύγειν ὅτι τάχιστα· φυγὴ δὲ ὁμοίωσις θεῷ κατὰ τὸ δυνατόν», meaning "evils can never pass away; for there must always remain something which is antagonistic to good. Having no place among the gods in heaven, they must inevitably hover about human nature, and this earthly sphere. Wherefore we ought to fly away from earth to heaven as quickly as we can; and to fly away is to become like God as far as this is possible." This assimilation is not physical but ethical and spiritual, achieved through the cultivation of virtue, justice, and wisdom.

The concept of assimilation to God continued to develop among the Neoplatonists, where it acquired a more mystical and internal dimension, as a path towards union with the One. Later, in Christian theology, "homoiosis" gained a central role, describing the process of spiritual perfection and moral transformation of humanity, to become "according to the image and likeness" (κατ’ εἰκόνα καὶ καθ’ ὁμοίωσιν) of God, thereby recovering the original divine likeness lost through the Fall.

Main Meanings

1. Likeness, resemblance — The general notion of sharing common characteristics or qualities between two or more entities.
2. Imitation, representation — The act of copying or reproducing something, such as a work of art or a behavior.
3. Assimilation to the divine (Platonic philosophy) — The ethical and spiritual endeavor of humans to become like God through the cultivation of virtue and knowledge (Plato, "Theaetetus" 176b).
4. Rhetorical figure (simile, comparison) — The use of similes or comparisons to enhance expression, as in poetry or prose.
5. Medicine/Biology (assimilation) — The process by which an organism incorporates substances or elements, making them similar to its own composition.
6. Grammar/Phonetics (assimilation) — The modification of a sound to become similar or identical to an adjacent sound.
7. Christian Theology (moral likeness) — The spiritual journey of humans towards moral perfection and the recovery of the "kat' homoiosin" (κατ’ ομοίωσιν) relationship with God, through grace and ascetic practice.

Word Family

"homoi- (root of ὅμοιος, meaning 'similar, same')"

The root "homoi-" forms the basis of an extensive family of words in Ancient Greek, revolving around the concepts of similarity, identity, and analogy. Derived from the adjective "homoios," this root denotes not only simple resemblance in appearance but also similarity in quality, nature, or function. From this fundamental idea, verbs describing the process of assimilation, nouns denoting the result of this process, and adjectives characterizing similarity in various contexts—from philosophy and rhetoric to medicine and grammar—are developed.

In Ancient Texts

"Homoiosis" is a concept that runs through the history of philosophy and theology, with pivotal references in texts that shaped its trajectory.

The 18 Methods

Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΟΜΟΙΩΣΙΣ:

Sources & Bibliography

• Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., Jones, H. S. — A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed. with revised supplement. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1996.
• Plato — Theaetetus, Republic, Laws.
• Aristotle — Metaphysics, On the Soul.
• Philo of Alexandria — On the Creation of the World.
• Basil the Great — On the Holy Spirit.
• Gregory of Nyssa — On the Making of Man.
• Septuagint — Old Testament.
• New Testament — Epistles of Peter.