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altars
An altar is a raised, sacred surface—often made of stone, wood, or metal—used in religious ceremonies for offerings, sacrifices, prayers, or sacraments like communion; it's the spiritual heart of a worship space, symbolizing connection between the divine and the human. Think of it as God’s 'dining table' where holy rituals are served.
The priest lit candles on the marble altar before beginning Mass.
In ancient Greece, worshippers would leave fruit and wine on the temple altar as offerings to the gods.
During the wedding ceremony, the couple exchanged vows while standing before the floral-decorated altar.
Some Indigenous traditions involve building a temporary altar of stones and feathers to honor ancestors.
The museum displayed a 12th-century Celtic altar carved with intricate knotwork and Christian symbols.
altare
Comes from Latin 'altare', likely derived from 'adolere' (to burn up, sacrifice), combining 'ad-' (to) and 'olere' (to smell, especially of burning offerings). It denotes a sacred table or structure used for religious rites, especially sacrifice or worship. Examples include altar, altarpiece, altarpiece, exalt (originally 'to lift up to the altar', later generalized to 'raise in rank or honor'). Core meaning: 'sacred raised place for offering'.