Apotheosis is “the elevation or exaltation of a person to the rank of a god”. It can also mean “the ideal example” or “epitome”.
Photo by Mark Deffenbaugh.
The word comes from Greek apo- “change” and theos “god”, according to the Online Etymology Dictionary.
Here are a few examples of apotheosis found in popular culture (listed on Wikipedia):
- "At the beginning of Stephen King's The Gunslinger, [...] it memorably describes the series' thematic desert setting as 'the apotheosis of all deserts'."
- "Salvador Dal