tophet
1
9.9
- noun
- /ˈtɒfɪt/
- Archaic
- Archaeologists discovered evidence of a tophet used for ancient fire rituals.
Examples
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The ancient city had a tophet where children were sacrificed.
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The historian described the tophet as central to the community's religious practices.
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Legends say the tophet was a place of both worship and fear in the old city.
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In biblical texts, tophet is mentioned as a place of fire.
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In ancient times, the tophet was infamous for its brutal rituals where children were sacrificed to appease deities.
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The archaeological site revealed a tophet where offerings were made in solemn ceremonies long ago.
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Scholars studied the ruins of the tophet, uncovering evidence of ancient sacrifices performed by early cultures.
Synonyms
1
7.0
A very old place where people worship, often visited for religious reasons
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word tophet comes from the Hebrew place name Topheth, a valley near Jerusalem where people once burned gifts as part of their worship. That's why historians and archaeologists call an ancient site a tophet when they find signs of old fire rituals.