Altar

An altar is a ritual structure used in religious practice to present offerings, perform sacrifices, or communicate with a deity. Altars may be simple or elaborate and can be constructed from stone, earth, or built platforms. In ancient religious systems, an altar established sacred space and structured ritual interaction, serving as the location where divine and human realms were understood to intersect. Altars appear across many cultures of the ancient Near East and Mediterranean world, with differing rules governing their use. In textual traditions, the altar often represents commitment, obligation, and regulated access to the sacred.