h; but it was chiefly in places of human resort that
their presence was expected. On some natural object or at some spot
regarded as sacred, particularly where, it was believed, a spirit or
deity had manifested himself (in some remarkable natural phenomenon, or
in some piece of good fortune or ill fortune), the worshiper would place
his offering. Sometimes it was left to be disposed of by the deity or
spirit or dead person at his pleasure. When the offering was an animal,
the blood, as food, was often applied to the grave or to the stone or
other object connected with a superhuman Power. In the course of time,
it may be supposed, it would be found convenient to erect a table or
some other structure on which an animal could be slain. Such a structure
would be an altar. At first simple, a heap of stones, a pile of dirt, a
rough slab, it was gradually enlarged and ornamented,[1980] and itself,
by association, became sacred.

+1082+. Places where the presence of the divine was recognized were
sacred. In them worship was paid to the deity, and in the course of time
they were marked off and guarded against profane use. At first, however,
they were merely spots on hills or in groves, by streams or in the open
country, needing no marks or watches, for they were known to all and
were protected by the reverence of the people.[1981] When the land came
to be more thickly populated and religion was better organized, such
places were inclosed and committed to the care of official persons.
Well-known examples are the Greek _temenos_ and the Arabian
_haram_.[1982] Taboos and privileges attached themselves to such
inclosures. Precautions had to be taken on entering them; the shoes, for
example, were removed, lest they should absorb the odor of sanctity and
thus become unfit for everyday use. The spaces thus set apart were
sometimes of considerable extent (as was and is the case at Mecca);
within them no war could be waged and no fugitive seized. Sometimes they
owed their sacredness to the buildings to which they were attached.

+1083+. The necessity for a house of worship arose very early.[1983]
Where there was an image or a symbol of a god, or where the apparatus
of sacrifice or of other ritual practice was considerable, buildings
were required for the protection of these objects and perhaps for the
convenience of the ministrants. The development of buildings followed
the course of all such arrangements--at first rude, they became
gra