The author explores the relationship between a sanctuary and society, particularly the relationship between a sanctuary and its worshippers through the management of votive objects by the authoritative bodies. Keeping a sanctuary tidy was a big concern for any group/ person(s) in charge. Simultaneously, installing a new dedication inevitably altered the landscape of a sanctuary, if significantly or not. Hence, there might have been constant social tensions regarding whether the disposing, recycling and reuse of votive offerings were considered sacrilegious or essential for the environmental arrangement of a sanctuary.
Sacred regulations and decrees prescribing the handling of votive offerings are known, and the preservation of damaged objects are found elsewhere by chance in temple inventory lists. These documents offer a glimpse into an intricate web of economic, cultural and religious ties concerning the management of the sanctuaries. In this paper, the author attempted to reconstruct the landscape of the sanctuaries through an exhaustive examination of the regulations governing the management of votive offerings.
