Altars are elevated, consecrated places used in many religions for worship and offerings. They can take various forms and hold objects of religious significance. Altars have a long history and can be found in museums and religious sites worldwide. They serve as shrines and focal points for celebrations in Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Shintoism, and Christianity. Personal altars are also common in some religions.
An altar is an elevated, consecrated place used during worship in many religions. It can take many forms, including a mobile table in the front of a church or a shrine built into the walls of a temple. Objects of particular religious significance, including offerings and relics, are often kept on or around the altar. During religious ceremonies, the faithful face the altar and the religious officiant who leads the ceremony.
The history of the altar is quite ancient. Many ancient religions used altars for their sacrifices and offerings, and the tradition was adopted by later religions and believers. Examples of ancient altars can be found in museums around the world, as well as religious sites such as Stonehenge. Many early altars have grooves or channels for blood and wine, suggesting they were used for sacrifices and offerings. These offerings would also include other foods such as bread and fruit.
Many early altars were in open-air shrines, often located in elevated places so they were closer to heaven. Modern followers of the pagan religion may also set up altars in the open air, or they may temporarily consecrate a place for the use of an altar. These altars contain various objects used in religious celebrations, such as candles, salt, bread, herbs, bowls or a ritual knife. Neopagans can also make space around their altars for fires.
In the case of religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism, the altar often serves as a shrine that can be visited at any time, as well as a focal point of religious celebrations. These altars may contain various aspects of the Buddha or Gods and have spaces for offerings of food, incense, money and other gifts. Many Buddhists also keep small personal altars in their homes. Tao and Shinto religious structures also have altars, with many adherents of these religions also observing religious practices at home altars.
Altars also play an important role in Christianity. Most branches of Christianity have altars in their churches, often oriented so that the congregation faces east. The Eucharist is traditionally held on the altar between sects offering Communion, and items important to the church may also be kept on the altar. Some sects use two altars: a high altar for important holidays and a regular altar for other times of the year.
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