SYNKRETISMOS

The ancient Greek term synkretismos was used by Plutarch to express the unity of the people of Crete.

Although they quarreled among themselves constantly, they banded together when faced with a common foreign enemy.

Erasmus re-introduced the term, syncretism, to denote a combination and harmonization of contradictory beliefs. It is in this sense that the title of this work must be understood: a substantial number of diverse parts which converge to form a harmonious whole.