Groves, Sacred

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GROVES, SACRED

The concept of sacred groves arose out of the traditional mistranslation of the Asherah as a sacred grove near the altar. The Asherah is now known to have been a manmade cult object that was placed near the altar. (For a fuller discussion see *Asherah.) There were, however, sacred *trees.

[Tikva S. Frymer]