The Brill Dictionary of Religion

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Altar
(899 words)

In order that a gift may be offered in such a way that no others may use it for themselves, but rather be given—as a rule—to a god, a holy place is required. Normally the place is an elevated one, so that it can display the offering to the eyes of all. It may be a rock, for example, or a board or slab, or an arrangement of stones. Altars erected by the Greeks for their animal sacrifices stood outside the temple. They had to stretch far enough to accommodate a hundred beasts at once on the occasi…

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Auffarth, Christoph, “Altar”, in: The Brill Dictionary of Religion, Edited by Kocku von Stuckrad. Consulted online on 28 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1872-5287_bdr_COM_00011>
First published online: 2006
First print edition: ISBN: 9789004124332, 20051223



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