Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Altare

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

ALTA'RE. According to the grammarians, a high altar (quasi alta ara), which was dedicated only to the gods above (Serv. ad Virg. Ecl. v. 66. Festus, s. v.), whilst the Ara was both lower, and employed in sacrificing to the gods below as well as those above. Such an interpretation may possibly acquire authority from the engraved gem (Altare/1.1) here figured (Agostini, Gemme, 142.), in which two altars, both with incense burning on them, but one much more elevated than the other, are seen; a similar example occurs in the miniatures of the Vatican Virgil, in which four square altars are depicted, two tall and two lower ones, and which seem to illustrate such a passage as inter aras et altaria (Plin. Paneg. i. 5. Compare Plin. H. N. xv. 40.), and other places in which the two words are distinguished. The interpretation that altare means that which is placed on the altar (ara) is scarcely so satisfactory; for in the passage of Quintilian (Declam. xii. 26.) aris altaria imponere, the reading is doubtful; and that of Justin (xxiv. 2.), sumptis in manus altaribus, will bear a very different interpretation.

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  Altare/1.1