Moving Statues

I have shrines in my home, but I also participate in public rites and festivals in my area. Is it alright to move a statue from a shrine in my home and use it for the public gathering, then return it to its place once the rite is over?

AgathonZante wrote:I have shrines in my home, but I also participate in public rites and festivals in my area. Is it alright to move a statue from a shrine in my home and use it for the public gathering, then return it to its place once the rite is over?

Yes, just respectfully. Only thing that really isn't supposed to ever be moved once established is a proper altar.

If it is done respectfully — an image is not the god itself, but neither is it merely wood or stone — and if it is genuinely necessary to do so.

Temple statues were sometimes taken in processions, and occasionally even taken on campaign with the army! It was also common for people to take their household gods when traveling. Athenaios has a story about a ship saved in a storm when one of the passengers got an image of Athena out of his luggage and they all called on her for aid.