Almond, Chr. An aureole of elliptic form, which is frequently met with encircling representations of saints, or of God the Father, God the Son, or the Virgin. A more common name, however, for this aureole is VESICA PISCIS (q.v.). The term of mystical almond was applied to the symbol expressive of the virginity of the Virgin Mary. The mystical meaning attached to this symbol is explained by reference to the rod of Aaron, which consisted of the bough of an almond-tree that had flowered in a single night and produced an almond on the morrow.
Almonry, Almonarium, Arch. Chr. A room where alms were distributed.
Fig. 16. Almuce.
Almuce, Aumuce, Amess, Chr. (almutium). A furred hood worn by the clergy for the sake of warmth, from the 13th to 16th centuries. Common in brasses of the 15th century. (Fig. [16].)
Aloa, or Haloa. An Attic festival, in honour of Demeter and Dionysus.
Alostel, O. E. A cry of heralds at the close of a tournament, ordering the combatants to quit the lists and retire to their lodgings.
Alpha and Omega, Chr. (ἄλφα and ὠμέγα). These two letters, respectively the first and the last of the Greek alphabet, symbolize our earthly life, since this has a beginning and an end. They are also a symbol of God as being the beginning and end of everything.
Altar. A kind of platform or table upon which sacrifices were offered to the gods. Hence, in Christian art, the table upon which the Eucharistic sacrifice is offered. (See Antependium, Ciborium, Reredos, &c. See Altare and Ara.)
Altar cards, Chr. Portions of the service of the mass printed separately on cards, and placed against the reredos of an altar.