 Finally "altar" may have been influenced by the French "autel" derived from Latin words "altare" meaning podium or stage and "adolere" to adore, in this sense meaning to worship, honour and offer sacrifices to influence forces beyond human understanding.Altars (, mizbe'ah, "a place of slaughter or sacrifice") in the Hebrew Bible were typically made of earth or unwrought stone.Altars were generally erected in conspicuous places.