Asebeia
/ˌæsɪˈbiːə/noun
In ancient Greek religion, impiety or a failure to show proper reverence toward the gods.
Did you know?Socrates was formally accused of asebeia, showing that religious irreverence in classical Athens could be treated as a civic crime rather than a private opinion.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sebʰ-
“To hold in reverence or show solemn respect”
Ancient Greek
Greek
sébomai (σέβομαι)
“To revere, worship, or feel awe before a deity”
Classical Greek
Greek
ásebos (ἄσεβος)
“Impious; one who shows no reverence toward the gods”
Classical Greek
Greek
asébeia (ἀσέβεια)
“Impiety, sacrilege, or irreverence toward divine and sacred institutions”
19th Century
English
asebeia
“A scholarly English borrowing used in discussions of ancient Greek religion, law, and philosophy”
Modern English
English
asebeia
“Impiety or religious irreverence, especially in classical Greek contexts”
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