The coup that failed

[DISRAELI]

Horns keep cropping up in the Old Testament, and I regard them as a symbol of power, probably inspired by the horns of bulls.Hence the scene in 1 Kings ch22 where the false prophet Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had horns of iron made for himself (or may have kept them as a permanent prop) so that he could act out the Syrians being pushed away in battle.

The Lamb of Revelation ch5 has seven of them, and the second beast of ch13 has "the horns of a lamb" in imitation.

The westen European designers of the Catholic altar were not part of the same cultural world. And in any case, that piece of furniture was originally supposed to be a table, for the celebration of a meal.

i believe your are correct in that they are probably a symbol of power. no matter who was using or what they were describing when used or placed on, for both the sinful and faithful.

i also believe that they were a symbol of protection and forciveness.   if i recall right off the top of my head the horns on the alter in Jerusalem for those who would lay hold of them seeking asylum, and the pouring of blood on them and the priest using their finger to place blood on them for the sin offerings.

Yes, my take on touching the horns is that it is understood as a way of making contact with God, the nearest way of "grasping his hand" or putting something into his hand.