Statue or Bust?

[Mania Aurelia Apollonia]

Salvete!

I have a question arising from another Facebook group I belong to.

Some people have taken to 3D printing busts of the Gods. They are intending to use them on Lararia and for rites.

Someone came in and said that busts are not appropriate, that a representation of a God must be a whole bodily statue?

Is this person correct, or are busts acceptable?

Curiosity got the best of me.

Valete!

[Gaius Curtius Philo]

The MOST appropriate is full body representations, because the God should be shown in a Complete body when used for religious purposes, a perfect body. But not everyone has the condition for that so sincerely I think people have to live within their means lol I wouldn't judge.

[Mania Aurelia Apollonia]

That's how I was figuring it (LOL). A full statue would definitely be preferable, but a bust would work in a pinch, temporarily.

[Publius Iunius Brutus]

Brutus Sacer. Augur. sal.

A full image is best. This is what was used in temples and at the lararium.

But a respectful bust for home reasons is not inappropriate. But I would favor the full image over a bust if all things are equal.

What you don't want to do is represent the Gods in a non-perfect manner. A damaged representation or one reflecting missing pieces from an ancient replica in its modern form is not appropriate. Therefore, a replica of the famous Venus de Milo (see image below) in its modern form is NOT appropriate.



A replica statue showing the restored version of the Venus de Milo is appropriate. It shows the Goddess in the ideal form as the Greek creator intended. See below image.

[Mania Aurelia Apollonia]

Thank you for the answers. This is good information. I appreciate it.

Vale