In some ancient Greek sanctuaries, there were officials in charge of the daily care, cleaning, maintenance, and repair of the statues of the gods. For example, the descendants of the sculptor Pheidias had undertaken the polishing of the ivory statue of Zeus in Olympia. A similar official was present at the temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens.

Berlin Goddess (a woman from a wealthy family represented as "the bride of the Underworld god Hades", i.e. Persephone), ca. 570-560 BCE, sculpture, Berlin State Museums (SMB) © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Antikensammlung / Gisela Geng CC BY-SA 4.0

Demeter, mid-5th century BCE, sculpture, Berlin State Museums (SMB) © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Antikensammlung / CC BY-SA 4.0

In Eleusis, the care and cleaning of the statues of the deities in the Telesterion was entrusted to the Phaidentes, who came from the Eumolpidae. References to this office are rare, but it must have been one of the oldest of the Mysteries because it covered a perennial and practical need (the oldest epigraphic evidence of the title dates to the end of the sixth century BCE). During the celebration of the Greater Mysteries, the Phaidentes ascended to the Acropolis as soon as the sacred objects of Demeter were safely deposited in the City Eleusinion and announced the arrival of the procession from Eleusis to the priestess of Athena.

Bust (protome) of Demeter or Persephone, 450-400 BCE, sculpture, Boston Museum of Fine Arts © Boston Museum of Fine Arts