the act of consecrating a temple, altar, statue, palace, &c. to the honour of some deity.

The use of dedications is very ancient both among the worshippers of the true God and among the heathens; the Hebrews call it roan bhanuchab, "imitation;" which the Greek translators render Ekrania and Ekranepoos, "renewing."

In the scripture we meet with dedications of the tabernacle, of altars, of the first and second temple, and even of the houses of private persons. There are also dedications of vessels, and garments of the priests and Levites, and even of the men themselves.

The heathens had also dedications of temples, altars, and images of their gods, &c. Nebuchadnezzar held a solemn dedication of his statue, Dan. iii. 2. Pilate dedicated gilt bucklers at Jerusalem to Tiberius, Philo de legat. Petronius would have dedicated a statue to the emperor in the same city, ibid. p. 791. Tacitus, Hist. lib. iv. c. 53. mentions the dedication of the capitol, upon rebuilding it by Vespasian, &c.

The Jews celebrated the anniversary of the dedication of their temple every year for eight days. This was first enjoined by Judas Maccabeus, and the whole synagogue, in the year of the Syro-Macedonian era 148, i.e. 164 years before Christ. The heathens had the like anniversaries, as that of the dedication of the temple of Parthenope, mentioned by Lycophron. Under Christianity, dedication is only applied to a church: and is properly the consecration thereof, performed by a bishop, with a number of ceremonies prescribed by the church.

The Christians finding themselves at liberty under Constantine, in lieu of their ruined churches, built new ones in every place; and dedicated them with much solemnity. The dedication was usually performed in a synod; at least they assembled a number of bishops to assist at the service. We have the description of those of the churches at Jerusalem and Tyre in Dedication, Eusebius, and many others in later writers.

in literature, is an address prefixed to a book, soliciting patronage, or testifying respect for the person to whom it is made. The dedication of the fourth part of Mr Edwards's History of Birds, is curious: To God! the one eternal! the incomprehensible, the omnipresent, omniscient and almighty Creator of all things that exist! from orbs immutably great to the minutest points of matter!—this Atom is dedicated and devoted, with all possible gratitude, humiliation, and worship, and the highest adoration both of body and mind, by his most religious, low, and humble creature, G. E.