THE ANCIENT ALTAR AT DAN

The High Place at Dan, mentioned in the Bible

Ancient temples usually stood on an acropolis, a word we usually associate with Athens. In fact, an acropolis is the stone platform that formed the base for all temples. The acropolis of the shrine at Dan is still visible today.

 The Barmah or sacred area at Dan 

FORM AND FUNCTION OF AN ANCIENT ALTAR

The altar itself seems to have been a four-square stone platform with 'horns' at each corner. The reconstruction below is based on stones found at Beersheba, the southern city that also had a shrine to Baal and the gods and goddesses of Nature worship.

The purpose of the horns is unknown. If the animal was slaughtered on this altar, the horns might have been used to brace the ropes holding it down. But a slaughtered animal would generate quite a large amount of blood, certainly enough to put out the flames needed to burn the sacrifice. The animal must have been slaughtered at one side of the altar, rather than on it.

The horned altar was not confined to Israel and Canaan. The painting below shows its use in the Greek city of Corinth.

Greek artwork showing a sacrifice made at a 'horned' altar
 Corinth, circa 540-530BC

The sacred area surrounding the altar always held a large water container, with which priests purified themselves before the ceremoney and cleansed themselves afterwards. In the Temple of Jerusalem this container was made of bronze, decorated with twelve brass oxen.

The water was not just functional: it was a link with Baal's battle with Yam-Nahar, the destructive power of water. Oxen, symbols of power and fertility, were common victims for sacrifice. The idea behind sacrifice seems to have been that you gave the god the best you had, in the hope of pleasing it and finding favor.

 Reconstruction of the Horned Altar, used at Dan

 Excavated stones of the Horned Altar, showing their size
These stones were found at the southern city of Beersheba