altar

Also known as religious altar, religious altars

thumb|Altar in Roskilde Cathedral|Roskilde Lutheran Cathedral beneath a carved [[reredos]] An altar is a table or platform for the presentation of religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, churches, and other places of worship. They are used particularly in Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and modern paganism. Many historical-medieval faiths also made use of them, including the Roman, Greek, and Norse religions.

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An altar is a table or platform used in religious settings for making offerings, performing sacrifices, or conducting rituals. Altars are central features in many world religions including Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and modern paganism, as well as in historical faiths like those of ancient Rome, Greece, and Norse cultures.

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Image: Marble altar, 194-93 BC, NAMA 1495, 191148.jpg

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Commons category: Altars
Commons gallery: Altar

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~42 min read

Article

35 sections

Contents

Etymology
Altars in antiquity
Judaism
Christianity
In Western Christian churches
Catholic Church
Protestant churches
Lutheran churches
Anglican churches
Eastern Christian Rites
Syro-Maronite Church
Oriental Rites
Armenian Rite
Alexandrian Rite
Ethiopic Rite
West Syriac Rite
East Syriac
[[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church|Indian Orthodox]]
War altar
Hinduism
Taoism
Buddhism
Shinto
Norse paganism
Asatru
Neopaganism
Wicca
Neo-Druidism
High places
See also
Footnotes
References
Sources
Further reading
External links

==Etymology== The modern English word altar was derived from Middle English altar, from Old English alter, taken from Latin altare ("altar"), probably related to adolere ("burn"); thus "burning place", influenced by altus ("high"). It displaced the native Old English word wēofod.