Altars in Latin America
Encyclopedia
The history of altars in Latin America is complex and is often deemed paradoxical; as its original purpose was for the worshipping of gods and human sacrifice. The altar
transitioned from being a symbol of non-Christian worship to a worldwide symbol of Christianity
.
The history of the altar begins not in Latin America
, but in ancient Rome
. The altar held a prominent place in family homes and was adorned with personal household gods or spirits called “lares,” which were worshiped daily. In addition to altars being used for the worship of household gods, they were also used for blood sacrifice and various other rituals involving the suspending of wreaths, in the hopes of evoking one’s genius, or “tutelary spirit of a person or place.” In 392 AD, with the banning of other religions, Christian ruler Theodosius I
forbade the use of altars for non-Christian rituals.
Just as altars revealed the rituals in which Romans appeased their gods, altars reveal a great deal about rituals of the gods in Mesoamerica
as well. Altars positioned atop great temples were used for human sacrifice and animal sacrifice
to appease the gods and allow for a fruitful crop. A special altar to the sun
was used for sacrifices in coronation
rites, a fact that signifies the importance of the god. The east-west path of the sun determined the principal ritual axis in the design of Aztec
cities. Thus the altar held great importance in determining the design of the city.
One of the most explicit visual depictions of ritual associated with an altar is evident in an altar unearthed in the ruins of El Cayo. This altar, commonly referred to as “Altar 4” portrays a man, seated before a table altar, scattering grains of incense
. In the carved image, the altar supports an incense burner as well. This imagery is associated with underworld deities and rites of fire
starting. Altar 4 is also important in part for the sense it communicates of the altar as the site of an assemblage of offerings and ritual items: the incense burner contains kindling sticks, as well as an arrangement of feathers all clustered around a cloth bundle. According to many archaeologists, "the altar is seen as a locus of a piling on of ritual goods is a constant theme in the programs of iconographic decoration worked into Maya pedestals and table altars."
The image of the altar being used as a piling for ritual goods is reminiscent of one of the other purposes of the altar: to honor the dead. On Todos Santos, or All Saints Day, people welcome back the souls of their departed loved ones by offering altars or ofrendas, commemorating them (Read 158-161). These altars include pictures of the deceased, food they enjoyed in life, statues of the Virgin Mary, pictures of saints, marigolds, paper cut-out figurines of skulls, and many other items. The size of the altars varies; some rise as high as 10-12 feet, while others are significantly smaller. They are covered in white satin
or plastic
, which could be representative of a shroud (Castro 10-11).
Ironically enough, despite the altar’s origins, it was later adopted as a symbol of Christianity. Pagan Caecilius asked the question, "Why do the Christians not have altars, temples, images, just as everybody else? Why must they worship in secrecy?" (Benko 12).However unbeknownst to non-Christians at the time, early Christians hidden underground in their intricate Catacombs
actually made use of altars as places in which to celebrate the Holy Eucharist. The earliest scriptural reference to the altar is found in 1 Corinthians 10: 21, in which St. Paul
contrasts the "table of the Lord," also referred to as, “trapeza Kyriou” on which the Eucharist is offered, with the "table of devils,” or altars (Benko 12).
Just as Christian altars served as a place on which to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, they also served as the tombs of the martyrs interred in the Catacombs. The practice of celebrating Mass
on the tombs of martyrs can be traced to the first quarter of the second century. St. Peter's Basilica
in Vatican City
is an example of dual uses of the altar; tomb of the martyr and for celebrating Mass. The custom itself perhaps was suggested by the message in the Apocalypse
, "I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God" (Benko 10). The image of the altar commemorating those who gave their lives for the one Christian god, is in striking contrast to the thousands upon thousands who were (mostly involuntarily) sacrificed to the multiple gods in ancient Rome and Mesoamerica.
The Christian altar was elevated from underground and remains one of the most visible, tangible symbols of Christianity. This rising up from underground is reminiscent of the Maya
, who after being persecuted went underground and in similar fashion, rose up later for the entire world to see.
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
transitioned from being a symbol of non-Christian worship to a worldwide symbol of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
.
The history of the altar begins not in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, but in ancient Rome
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
. The altar held a prominent place in family homes and was adorned with personal household gods or spirits called “lares,” which were worshiped daily. In addition to altars being used for the worship of household gods, they were also used for blood sacrifice and various other rituals involving the suspending of wreaths, in the hopes of evoking one’s genius, or “tutelary spirit of a person or place.” In 392 AD, with the banning of other religions, Christian ruler Theodosius I
Theodosius I
Theodosius I , also known as Theodosius the Great, was Roman Emperor from 379 to 395. Theodosius was the last emperor to rule over both the eastern and the western halves of the Roman Empire. During his reign, the Goths secured control of Illyricum after the Gothic War, establishing their homeland...
forbade the use of altars for non-Christian rituals.
Just as altars revealed the rituals in which Romans appeased their gods, altars reveal a great deal about rituals of the gods in Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica is a region and culture area in the Americas, extending approximately from central Mexico to Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, within which a number of pre-Columbian societies flourished before the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the 15th and...
as well. Altars positioned atop great temples were used for human sacrifice and animal sacrifice
Animal sacrifice
Animal sacrifice is the ritual killing of an animal as part of a religion. It is practised by many religions as a means of appeasing a god or gods or changing the course of nature...
to appease the gods and allow for a fruitful crop. A special altar to the sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
was used for sacrifices in coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
rites, a fact that signifies the importance of the god. The east-west path of the sun determined the principal ritual axis in the design of Aztec
Aztec
The Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the late post-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.Aztec is the...
cities. Thus the altar held great importance in determining the design of the city.
One of the most explicit visual depictions of ritual associated with an altar is evident in an altar unearthed in the ruins of El Cayo. This altar, commonly referred to as “Altar 4” portrays a man, seated before a table altar, scattering grains of incense
Incense
Incense is composed of aromatic biotic materials, which release fragrant smoke when burned. The term "incense" refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor that it produces. It is used in religious ceremonies, ritual purification, aromatherapy, meditation, for creating a mood, and for...
. In the carved image, the altar supports an incense burner as well. This imagery is associated with underworld deities and rites of fire
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
starting. Altar 4 is also important in part for the sense it communicates of the altar as the site of an assemblage of offerings and ritual items: the incense burner contains kindling sticks, as well as an arrangement of feathers all clustered around a cloth bundle. According to many archaeologists, "the altar is seen as a locus of a piling on of ritual goods is a constant theme in the programs of iconographic decoration worked into Maya pedestals and table altars."
The image of the altar being used as a piling for ritual goods is reminiscent of one of the other purposes of the altar: to honor the dead. On Todos Santos, or All Saints Day, people welcome back the souls of their departed loved ones by offering altars or ofrendas, commemorating them (Read 158-161). These altars include pictures of the deceased, food they enjoyed in life, statues of the Virgin Mary, pictures of saints, marigolds, paper cut-out figurines of skulls, and many other items. The size of the altars varies; some rise as high as 10-12 feet, while others are significantly smaller. They are covered in white satin
Satin
Satin is a weave that typically has a glossy surface and a dull back. It is a warp-dominated weaving technique that forms a minimum number of interlacings in a fabric. If a fabric is formed with a satin weave using filament fibres such as silk, nylon, or polyester, the corresponding fabric is...
or plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
, which could be representative of a shroud (Castro 10-11).
Ironically enough, despite the altar’s origins, it was later adopted as a symbol of Christianity. Pagan Caecilius asked the question, "Why do the Christians not have altars, temples, images, just as everybody else? Why must they worship in secrecy?" (Benko 12).However unbeknownst to non-Christians at the time, early Christians hidden underground in their intricate Catacombs
Catacombs
Catacombs, human-made subterranean passageways for religious practice. Any chamber used as a burial place can be described as a catacomb, although the word is most commonly associated with the Roman empire...
actually made use of altars as places in which to celebrate the Holy Eucharist. The earliest scriptural reference to the altar is found in 1 Corinthians 10: 21, in which St. Paul
Paul of Tarsus
Paul the Apostle , also known as Saul of Tarsus, is described in the Christian New Testament as one of the most influential early Christian missionaries, with the writings ascribed to him by the church forming a considerable portion of the New Testament...
contrasts the "table of the Lord," also referred to as, “trapeza Kyriou” on which the Eucharist is offered, with the "table of devils,” or altars (Benko 12).
Just as Christian altars served as a place on which to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, they also served as the tombs of the martyrs interred in the Catacombs. The practice of celebrating Mass
Mass
Mass can be defined as a quantitive measure of the resistance an object has to change in its velocity.In physics, mass commonly refers to any of the following three properties of matter, which have been shown experimentally to be equivalent:...
on the tombs of martyrs can be traced to the first quarter of the second century. St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
in Vatican City
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
is an example of dual uses of the altar; tomb of the martyr and for celebrating Mass. The custom itself perhaps was suggested by the message in the Apocalypse
Apocalypse
An Apocalypse is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e. the veil to be lifted. The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament...
, "I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God" (Benko 10). The image of the altar commemorating those who gave their lives for the one Christian god, is in striking contrast to the thousands upon thousands who were (mostly involuntarily) sacrificed to the multiple gods in ancient Rome and Mesoamerica.
The Christian altar was elevated from underground and remains one of the most visible, tangible symbols of Christianity. This rising up from underground is reminiscent of the Maya
Maya civilization
The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as for its art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. Initially established during the Pre-Classic period The Maya is a Mesoamerican...
, who after being persecuted went underground and in similar fashion, rose up later for the entire world to see.