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Research draft

altar

vr.tr.altar · PHY.OBJ

Let an agent explain altars, relay forms, functions and meanings across religions from religious studies sources and practitioners with attribution, describe the named altars respectfully, and distinguish altars from shrines as places, temples, tables of offering in archaeology and secular memorials.

Thing Registry Physical world and living systems

Research draft, second pass

A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.

written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify

Researched by: Claude

Purpose and description

Let an agent explain altars, relay forms, functions and meanings across religions from religious studies sources and practitioners with attribution, describe the named altars respectfully, and distinguish altars from shrines as places, temples, tables of offering in archaeology and secular memorials.

A raised structure or table used for offerings, sacrifice, prayer or veneration in religious practice, found across traditions, including Christian altars for the Eucharist, Hindu and Buddhist shrines, the Buddhist Sumeru altar with its stepped base symbolising Mount Sumeru, Shinto kamidana and the shipboard shrines of Japanese vessels, Ainu nusa altars of inau offerings, the peji or shrine of Candomble terreiros, portable altars and home altars in many cultures; the model presents all traditions respectfully.

What it is for: Religious offering, prayer and veneration.

It can be explain forms and functions with attribution; relay traditions; describe named altars; distinguish related structures.

Distinguishing features

Sacred use

Raised form

Offerings or ritual

Across religions

What it looks like

A raised table, platform or shelf, often adorned with sacred objects, candles, flowers or offerings.

Physical character

Christian altar stone tradition: relics in consecrated altars note - Catholic practice

Sumeru base: xumizuo, stepped plinth note - East Asian Buddhist

Ainu nusa: row of inau prayer sticks note

How it is recognised

Raised structure for religious offering or worship

Shipboard Shinto shrine, peji, portable altar, Sumeru altar, nusa, home altar

Shrines are sacred places that may contain altars; temples are buildings; offering tables in archaeology may be funerary; memorials are secular

Related models

is a kind of - in registry terms

sacred place

is found in - among other religious buildings

church

includes -

butsudan

is contrasted with -

shrine

In practice

Families and kinds

Christian altars and altarpieces

Buddhist altars and butsudan

Shinto kamidana and shipboard shrines

Hindu puja altars

Afro-Brazilian peji

Ainu nusa

portable and home altars

Standards and regulation

Religious rules for consecration and use

Heritage protection of historic altars

Failure modes and hazards

Disrespectful or exoticising framing

Imposing one tradition s terms on others

Candle fire risks at home altars

Also called

shipboard Shinto shrinePejiportable altarSumeru altarnusahome altarlarariumaraChristian altarmass rockvotive altarAltar of Burnt Offeringancient Greek altaraltar of Catholic churchPortable altarAltar of Incenseportico altarTengzug Shrinebutsudankamidanaside altarRehueUshnuVedithymelearula (altar)funerary altarcommunion altarNanao butsudan

Where this came from

wikidata · CC0 1.0

Source repository Registry entry point

Also registered as vr.tr.altar

Drafted structure

Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.

Understand What an altar is.

Attribution.

Definition

Definition.

Definition

Definition.

  1. What is an altar, and how does it differ from shrines, temples, offering tables and memorials? definition
  2. Is the question about a specific tradition, home practice, art history or archaeology, presented respectfully? boundary

Named

Named altars.

Named

Named.

  1. What are shipboard Shinto shrines, the peji, portable altars, Sumeru altars, nusa and home altars? definition
  2. Which entry fits the specific altar? action
Traditions Traditions.

Attribution.

Christian

Christian altars.

Christian

Christian.

  1. What role does the altar play in Christian liturgy, as churches describe? provenance
  2. Which references are standard? provenance

Asian

Asian traditions.

Asian

Asian.

  1. How are Buddhist, Shinto and Hindu altars used, as practitioners and scholars describe? provenance
  2. Which sources are cited? provenance
Practice Practice.

Attribution.

Home

Home altars.

Home

Home.

  1. How are home altars kept in different cultures, including ancestor veneration? provenance
  2. Which entry fits kamidana? action

Afro-Brazilian

Candomble.

Afro-Brazilian

Afro-Brazilian.

  1. What is the peji in Candomble terreiros, as practitioners describe? provenance
  2. Which entry fits Candomble? action
Context Art and history.

Context.

Art

Altarpieces.

Art

Art.

  1. How did altarpieces develop in European art? provenance
  2. Which entry fits Ghent Altarpiece? action

Ancient

Ancient altars.

Ancient

Ancient.

  1. How were altars used in ancient Greek, Roman and Near Eastern religion? provenance
  2. Which entry fits Pergamon Altar? action

What the second pass must settle

  • Should the named altars be separate entries?
  • How should religious studies and practitioner sources be linked?
  • How should historical sacrificial altars be recorded?
Draft as JSON