The naked bodies of the statues are associated with the cult of the body which was essentially a religious activity.
ðə nˈeɪkᵻd bˈɑːdiz ʌvðə stˈætʃuːz ɑːɹ ɐsˈoʊsɪˌeɪɾᵻd wɪððə kˈʌlt ʌvðə bˈɑːdi wˌɪtʃ wʌz ᵻsˈɛnʃəli ɐ ɹᵻlˈɪdʒəs æktˈɪvᵻɾi.