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altar
altar In the OT, a place of sacrifice near which animals were slaughtered and on which oblations of corn, wine, and incense were burnt and offered, in the open air. The ‘high places’ (cf. e.g. 2 Kgs. 23: 5) were shrines with a natural kind of altar. Solomon's Temple at Jerusalem had an altar in the courtyard overlaid with bronze (1 Kgs. 8: 64) and Ahaz commissioned a larger altar with horns at the four corners. As places for sacrifice, altars were imbued with a sense of holiness where people would approach God and in some cases also seek refuge (1 Kgs. 2: 28). Altars might be of stone, either shaped or natural (Judg. 6: 19–23), or of earth (Exod. 20: 24), or of metal, as was the altar of incense (Exod. 30: 3). After the Jerusalem Temple was established as the national centre for worship, locally installed altars were officially no longer allowed.
In the NT there are eight references to an altar in the Temple or in the New Jerusalem according to the vision in Rev. (e.g. 8: 5). The altar in the existing Temple at Jerusalem is referred to in Matt. 5: 23–4, for in Herod's Temple there was the new altar which the Maccabees had restored (1 Macc. 4: 41 ff.) after the ‘desolating sacrilege’ of Antiochus Epiphanes had polluted the altar in 167 BCE. The reference in 1 Cor. 10: 21 to ‘the Lord's table’ is probably more a reference to the Eucharist than to any structure used for its celebration, and in Heb. 13: 10 the writer claims that Christians have an altar ‘from which those who officiate in the tent (or tabernacle) have no right to eat’, which would appear to be a reference to the Eucharist contrasted with the sacrifices of Judaism. In the writings of the early Fathers of the Church structures on which the Eucharist was celebrated are sometimes called a ‘table’ and sometimes an ‘altar’. They were made of wood, though stone altars were introduced when the Eucharist was celebrated at the tomb of a martyr in the Roman catacombs in the 4th cent. CE. |
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W. R. F. BROWNING. "altar." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. W. R. F. BROWNING. "altar." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-altar.html W. R. F. BROWNING. "altar." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-altar.html |
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altar
altar table or platform for the performance of religious sacrifice. In its simplest form the altar is a small pile, with a square or circular surface, made of stone or wood. Its features vary according to its purpose. The altar of libation usually has a drain for the liquid, and so does the altar of bloody sacrifice; the altar of burnt offering (including incense) often has a depressed hollow for a fire. Altars in Egypt, in Mesopotamia, in Greece, in Rome, and among the Aztec and the Maya were highly adorned with friezes, cornices, elaborate platforms, and canopies. At Pergamum there was a huge monumental altar 40 ft (12.2 m) high. Altars as a rule were out of doors in the ancient world and in Central America. The Christian altar is the place to celebrate the Eucharist , a sacrifice in the traditional view. In the Western Church the altar is a long, narrow table of stone or wood, often reminiscent of a tomb; at its back is a reredos , which often bears a canopy. In the Roman rite there are in the middle of the altar a crucifix and a tabernacle to contain the reserved Host, although recent legislation of Roman liturgical reform suggests that the tabernacle be placed elsewhere in the church. There is a recess in each altar containing bones of martyrs; this is even true of tiny portable altars carried by chaplains. In Eastern rites the altar is square and has no backing or reredos; it is away from the wall. Most Protestant denominations have no altar; a typical practice is to have a permanent communion table below and in front of the pulpit. |
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"altar." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "altar." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-altar.html "altar." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-altar.html |
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altar
altar. The word was used of the Eucharistic table from early times. It was disliked by the Reformers, who associated it with the doctrine of the sacrifice of the Mass.
The earliest altars were doubtless of wood, being tables in private houses, and it was perhaps the custom of celebrating the Eucharist on the tombs of the martyrs which led to the introduction of stone altars. After the persecutions bodies of martyrs were placed under altars, and until 1977 the RC Church required the enclosure of relics in all altars. It was long customary to have only one altar in a church, but in the W. the custom of saying private Masses caused others to be added, the original one then being known as the ‘high altar’. Altars were long placed against the east wall of the church, but the earlier free-standing position has now been largely restored. See also WESTWARD POSITION. |
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E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "altar." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "altar." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-altar.html E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "altar." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-altar.html |
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altar
altar. Block, pedestal, stand, or table on which to place or sacrifice offerings to a deity. Jewish altars had horn-like ornaments at each corner, and this type of decoration also occurred in Classical Antiquity, with simplified horns or ears, also known as acroteria. Classical altar-tops have similarities to cinerarium- and sarcophagus-lids, and influenced the design of Neo-Classical gate-piers, tops of door-cases, and the like.
Christian altars, consecrated for celebration of the Eucharist, are elevated tables with a plane top, usually of stone, although the Reformation insisted on replacing them with wooden Communion- or Holy-tables. In a church the high altar is the chief altar and is sited at the east end of the chancel. The sides (horns) of altars are termed Epistle (south) and Gospel (north). |
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JAMES STEVENS CURL. "altar." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES STEVENS CURL. "altar." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-altar.html JAMES STEVENS CURL. "altar." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-altar.html |
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Altar
Altar (Lat., altare, ‘to raise up’). A structure, often raised, either natural or humanly made, usually with a flat surface, on which offerings are made to God or gods. In Hinduism, the vedi (altar) is the centre of the world, axis mundi, because the divine comes into the world at that point. The word bēma (Gk., ‘altar’) may refer to the whole sanctuary, hiera/hagia trapeza (‘sacred/holy table’) being reserved for the altar.
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JOHN BOWKER. "Altar." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN BOWKER. "Altar." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Altar.html JOHN BOWKER. "Altar." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Altar.html |
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altar
al·tar / ˈôltər/ • n. the table in a Christian church at which the bread and wine are consecrated in communion services. ∎ a table or flat-topped block used as the focus for a religious ritual, esp. for making sacrifices or offerings to a deity. PHRASES: lead someone to the altar marry. ORIGIN: Old English altar, alter, based on late Latin altar, altarium, from Latin altus ‘high.’ |
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"altar." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "altar." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-altar.html "altar." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-altar.html |
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altar
altar OE. altar, alter = OS., OHG., ON. altari; Gmc. adoption of late L. altar, altāre, altārium for L. altāria n. pl. burnt offerings, altar, prob. rel. to adolēre burn in sacrifice. The native OE. word was wī(ġ)bed, wēofod ‘idol table’; the alien word was applied spec. to the Christian altar.
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T. F. HOAD. "altar." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "altar." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-altar.html T. F. HOAD. "altar." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-altar.html |
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altar
altar the table in a Christian church at which the bread and wine are consecrated in communion services; a table or flat-topped block used as the focus for a religious ritual, especially for making sacrifices or offerings to a deity. The word comes ultimately from Latin altus ‘high’.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "altar." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "altar." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-altar.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "altar." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-altar.html |
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altar
altar
•aorta, daughter, exhorter, exporter, extorter, Horta, importer, mortar, porter, quarter, slaughter, snorter, sorter, sporter, supporter, three-quarter, torte, transporter, underwater, water
•altar, alter, assaulter, defaulter, falter, Gibraltar, halter, Malta, palter, psalter, salter, vaulter, Walter
•flaunter, haunter, saunter, taunter, vaunter
•exhauster, Forster
•fraudster • granddaughter
•stepdaughter • manslaughter
•ripsnorter • pole-vaulter • backwater
•headquarter • freshwater
•breakwater • rainwater • seawater
•dishwater • tidewater • Whitewater
•saltwater • rosewater • shearwater
•firewater
•doubter, grouter, outer, pouter, scouter, shouter, spouter, touter
•counter, encounter, mounter
•jouster, ouster
•revcounter
•bloater, boater, Botha, Dakota, doter, emoter, floater, gloater, iota, Kota, Minnesota, motor, promoter, quota, rota, rotor, scoter, voter
•bolter, coulter (US colter), Volta
•boaster, coaster, poster, roaster, toaster
•roadster • oldster
•bolster, holster, pollster, soulster, upholster
•billposter
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"altar." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "altar." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-altar.html "altar." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-altar.html |
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