Altars
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Altars are one of the main ways we interact with the gods and the divine in Senchus. Without them we would not be able to make offerings, libations or even have a place of prayer. However the truth behind altars in Senchus is illusive, with no true altar being positively found before the Christian period or Roman conquests across the world. This is likely because the purely Celtic model was replaced with the more sophisticated Roman altars or were replaced by churches and Christian ones.
One could guess because of this lack of information that the Celts lacked altars, however this is simply note true. Not only because it would make Celtic religion the only religion to lack altars, but also because multiple classical sources mention Atlars, no matter how fantastical they may depict them. The altars described are normally followed by its description as being soaked in the blood of men and therefore they were historically used for sacrifice.
Though we have little in the way of evidence, the Society will present a few possible examples for a practitioner of Senchus Below:
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The Natural Style
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This model of Altar is made up mostly of a natural feature, such as pile of rocks or perhaps a Menhir. It is unclear what exactly these would've looked like beyond them being a noticeable landmark. These are descriped in the record of Crom Dubh Sunday, when the celebrators would leave garlands upon 'Altair na Grainne' or 'The Altar of the Sun'. It is unclear to what extent they were used however, with it being just as likely that these miraculous places served as places of worship with them taking up more of the position of the idol or a shrine.
Nevertheless, it may serve well for a Senchus, if they have a noticeable landmark such as this nearby, to venture out for their worship and give offerings to it. However the society recongises that this is spotty at best with most of the landmarks such as this either falling into disrepair and disuse or otherwise disappearing completely.
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The Horgr Style
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This style is more likely, this style is made up of a series of piled stones with one stone at the top being dominant. It is this top stone that is used to hold the offerings. This style is taken mostly from Norse customs, another note is that to sanctify a Horgr the altar must be sprinkled with blood first, this does find a similar image to the Roman descriptions of Celtic altars.
Altars like these however are mostly found outside and most likely next to another divine object, such as a Bile or Idol of some sort. However certain altars are made similar to the images made by Greeks and Romans at crossroads. Altars such as these persist even in folklore with a similar event occuring in places like the tomb of Medb.
The Society, as of now. Will most likely use these kinds of altars for outside religious sites and for annual events such as Lughnasa and Samhain.
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The Classical Style
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These are altars one would be more similar with, they are blocks of stone and sometimes concrete built in an I shape. Famously used by the Hellenes and Romans for their religious practices. Although there is no evidence of Pre-Roman celts ever using altars such as these, it is the only altar type that we can positively identify that celts did use and is one of our main sources to understand classical Celtic religion.
There is little to discuss here on the further nature of a Classical Style Altar, if a person wishes to learn more they need only to look at Gallo-Roman examples to understand more fully.
Other Roman altars, such as those found in temples may be further used by the Society within their own temples. However it is more likely that the shape, size and nature of the altar will vary depending on the temple itself.
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Numantian Style
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A Style found in a pottery shard at Numantia, it is one of the few Celtic Depictions of an Altar around. Below is the image of the shard and the shape that the Altar took.
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It Could possibly also possess an Hour-Glass shape.
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The Artwork on the Altar is another important and unique feature that should be considered when discussing Celtic Altars. Although it seems to be mostly Patterns and not actual depictions like Classical styles.
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Domestic Altars
There is no historical evidence of domestic altars, neither in archaeological, classical or medieval evidence. It is, as far as the Society is unconcerned, not proven historically that the celts held an altar. However, there are certain things to debate this, for one all comparable faiths (Except maybe the Germanic faiths) possessed a domestic altar of some kind, this kind of altar could've slipped through the cracks of writing because of their unextraordinary nature. The celts keeping a home altar is certainly not much to gawk at past their human sacrifices and other more easily propagandized traditions.
There are also hints perhaps at an altar, folkloric spirits may have once been domestic household gods and therefore would need an altar. Furthermore, the hint at the keeping of reliquaries of both great heroes and enemies which came through in head hunting is another suggestion that they might've been displayed on an altar. There is finally the modern folkloric traditions, which suggests that Saint Brigid comes int ones home on Imbolc and eats offerings, this could also hint towards a domestic altar.
There are several kinds of Domestic Altars:
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Hearth Altars
Most likely the historical method, Hearth altars are home altars built at the homes hearth which was considered to be central to the household the entire hearth was especially built up with there being ritual spits, pokers etc. and offerings hung from the top, even the stone that the hearth was built upon offered up a sacred element, being very heavily decorated in some known instances.
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Lararium Type
This type of Altar is based off of Roman Larariums, here the household gods, family gods and ancestors and maybe the image of one or two gods were given regular worship. To create a Lararium one must have a separate space prepared to hold the image of the household god, however they also need a container and burner for incense, a container to hold milk, water or alcohol, an offering dish, a container for salt or other pure things and most importantly a sacred oil lamp or candle.
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Rites
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The rites practiced on an altar is usually that of making offerings and libations. These are of course for the gods and whatever is offered is not to be taken from the altar under any circumstance. On a domestic altar however, it may provide best that after a time to take the offering outside and follow other offering rites, most of the society rituals will not concern domestic altars.
When approaching an altar, it is best that you approach clockwise around the altar three times, like that of a well. When you are done, it is then the time to give the offering to the altar and say a prayer, afterwards you must leave and not look back.
It may also be prudent, if you come across a Horgr style to carry a stone with you to add to the pile. You should not take a rock from the altar nor should you try to destroy, disrupt or obscure the pile. The stone should not obscure where the offering should be made.
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