TheJedi Temple (also known as thePalace of the Jedi) was the headquarters of theJedi Order from the conclusion of theGreat Sith War to theGreat Jedi Purge and during that time was home to its major training, bureaucratic and dormitory facilities. Jointly operated by the Order and theGalactic Republic, the Temple was sealed to all but the Jedi and their allies, with very few public areas. The complex would be abandoned and largely destroyed at the time of theDeclaration of a New Order when the Order was utterly routed by theGalactic Empire. Upon the rise of theGalactic Alliance, the Temple wasrebuilt for thereformed Order under the leadership ofLuke Skywalker.
"Our time has come. For over 300 years, we prepared. We grew stronger. While you rested in your cradle of power, believing your people were safe…protected. You were trusted to lead the Republic but you were deceived, as our powers over the dark side had blinded you. You assumed no force could challenge you and now…finally…we have returned."
The eastern entrance into the Temple as it was in3653 BBY.
The Coruscant Temple's origins date back to5000 BBY when, after theBattle of Coruscant of theGreat Hyperspace War, theGalactic Republic granted the Jedi land onCoruscant over thesacred spire, which contained aForce nexus. A holy place for the local Coruscanti, the Republic hoped by granting the Order land they would build a massive fortress. However, the Order did not wish to entangle themselves with the politics of the capitol or become a symbol of war and opted to build only a small meditative enclave.[8] It wasn't until theOld Sith Wars saw thedevastation of Ossus and theGreat Jedi Library located there that the Order decided to re-establish itsacademy at the sacred spire. At the behest of the Order's wisest thinkers, theFour Masters began the painstaking task of building the Temple Ziggurat. Growing steadily for the next thousand years the Temple incorporated various pieces of historical works and architecture from their past, including tiles and stained-glass mosaics from the lost complex onOssus.[1]
Following the construction of the fourJedi Council spires, theJedi High Council moved from their temporary meeting place and permanently relocated to theHigh Council Chamber at the top of thenorthwestern tower. As the Order became more and more tightly-linked to the Republic they protected, the Order closed some of its satellite facilities and began moving all artifacts fromExis Station to the Temple'sArchives.[1] After the failed JediConclave atKatarr, the Temple was abandoned as the remaining Jedi Knights went into hiding asDarth Nihilus andDarth Sion began theFirst Jedi Purge. Abandoned for only a brief period, the Jedi reorganized and returned to the Temple following the defeat of both theSith Lords.[12]
For the next 300 years the Temple would stand as a beacon of the Jedi's light in the galaxy, aiding the ailing Republic during the tryingGreat Galactic War. It was at the climax of this conflict that adormant Sith Empire returned to the known galaxy and struck at the Temple during theSacking of Coruscant in3653 BBY. Marching up to the gates of the Temple, a raiding party of Sith led byDarth Malgus entered the Temple and slaughtered the complex's main line of defense in order to shut offGalactic City's security network. Once dismantled, Malgus' assault team planted bombs within the Temple and detonated them when the Sith fleet opened fire from the skies. The exterior of the Temple crumbled, the four stately towers falling upon the tiled roof, an empty ruin of its former self. However, much of the interior remained intact, symbolic of the Order's state of affairs following the attack.[2]
Yet while parts of the structure survived, the Jedi suffered an even greater loss—one of knowledge and history. Entire floors of priceless archives were obliterated or abandoned in the chaos. Irreplaceable Holocrons, combat manuals, star charts, and the wisdom of generations of Masters were lost, leaving a deep wound that the Order would struggle to recover from in the years to come.[13]
Jedi and Sith vie for control in the costlyGreat Galactic War as the Jedi Temple is razed during the Sacking of Coruscant.
After the signing of theTreaty of Coruscant theGalactic Senate voted to hold off on rebuilding the Temple indefinitely due to the lack of funds. InterimSupreme ChancellorParan Am-Ris informedGrand MasterZym of the vote and was promised that the Temple would eventually be rebuilt and the Sith routed. Soon after, Grand Master Zym was anonymously summoned to the Temple ruins in order to receive an important message. DiscoveringCommanderGin Lesl amongst the rubble, Zym assumed that she was prepared to tell him something. However she was just as confused as theKel Dor Jedi. It was at that point thebounty hunterBraden revealed that he had information regarding the Sith assault on theEnvoy and the subsequentdeath ofMasterDar'Nala. Commander Lesl was confused as to why she had been summoned before Braden shot her for having him arrested onDantooine. Drawing hislightsaber Zym demanded that Braden allow him to arrest him; Braden refused and attacked, killing the Jedi Grand Master and leaving both bodies amongst the ruins.[14]
Following the defeat of the Sith Empire the Order was able to rebuild the Temple. Expanding over the next three millennia, with major additions beginning circa3500 BBY, seeing the completion of theJedi Archives circa2519 BBY, another addition in2000 BBY, and the rebuilding of the Temple Spires in1019 BBY.[1] It was only after the defeat of theBrotherhood of Darkness during theNew Sith Wars and the end of theRepublic Dark Age that the Temple would see its reconstruction completed with the refocusing of the Order at theRuusan Reformation. Consolidating most of their efforts on Coruscant, the Order closed most of their satellite facilities and dismantled theArmy of Light and began getting away from the militaristic teachings left over from the war with the Sith. With the Sith believed to be extinct, the Order and the Republic entered into a time of peace and prosperity known as theGolden Age. Unbeknownst to the Jedi, the Temple had been infiltrated by one of the last Sith following the Reformation.Darth Zannah, apprentice toDarth Bane, scoured the Archives in the guise of PadawanNalia Adollu in order to find a cure for theorbalisks that were killing her master. Discovering the Sith too late, a task force was sent to defeat the Sith onTython. The mission failed but was erroneously deemed a success and the Sith managed to avoid Jedi detection for the next thousand years.[15]
The Fall of the Jedi[]
"Enter our Temple unbidden, you have. Leaving it will not be easy, you will find."
―Grand Master Yoda to an invasionary party of Yinchorri warriors[16]
The Temple as it stood for nearly a millennium.
Following nearly a thousand years of peace, the Order was threatened by a new darkness. The future became even more clouded than was usual, the High Council could not predict events or sense disturbances as it once could. It was during this time of uneasiness in the ranks of the Order that the Temple became prone to attack.[17]
The Temple first came under siege in44 BBY when aseries of robberies plagued the Temple. The High Council ordered MastersQui-Gon Jinn andTahl to uncover the thief and present him before the Council for judgment. Ranging from shreddedtunics to missingtraining lightsabers, the threat became more serious when theHealing Crystals of Fire went missing. Even more extreme, while he wandered through theRoom of a Thousand Fountains, an attempt was made on Grand MasterYoda's life. While Yoda came away unscathed, the entire Temple was stricken with fear as its walls were no longer a buffer against attack.[18] When it was discovered thatapprenticeBruck Chun was working in league with the mysterious intruder, theDark JediXanatos, Masters Jinn and Tahl began pondering on what Xanatos' true intentions were. Gathering information from Master Yoda the two investigating Jedi deduced the Dark Jedi was after thevertex stored in theTemple Treasury. Planning on setting a trap while Tech SpecialistMiro Daroon began cycling the sabotage Temple power grid, Jinn and his Padawan managed to lure Xanatos and Chun to the top of the High Council Tower. While Jinn was able to protect the Temple and recover the Healing Crystals, Xanatos escaped to plague the Order for a time, while Chun was defeated byObi-Wan Kenobi and accidentally killed, having fallen off a waterfall in the Room of a Thousand Fountains.[19] The Temple was also referred to as the Palace of the Jedi.[20]
Eleven years after Xanatos' invasion as the Force grew more and more murky,The High Council dispatched six of its members along with several other members of the Order to put an end to theYinchorri Uprising. Taking advantage of the absence of High Council members, the mysteriousDark Lord of the SithDarth Sidious orchestrated anassault on the Temple. Hiring a terror group ofYinchorri they silently landed on the Temple Ziggurat and entered through theAtrium off the High Council Tower. Inside the invaders found theaccommodation sector abandoned and were eventually met with a group of Jedi led by Grand Master Yoda. When the Yinchorri attacked, the Jedi were able to defeat them all, suffering only the deaths ofJude Rozess andTieren Nie-Tan.[21]
The Temple Spires at sunset.
When the High Council became aware of a Sith resurgence following theInvasion of Naboo and the appearance and subsequent death ofDarth Maul, they began to prepare themselves for an inevitable confrontation. Adding new hangar facilities to the Council Towers during theSeparatist Crisis to house the Order's newDelta-7 Aethersprite-class light interceptor, the Council caught the flak of thePeople's Inquest group. Demanding that the Council release its financial reports, they would gain further fuel during the"Baby Ludi" custody case when anOrd Thodenwoman accused the Order of kidnapping her daughter,Ludi Billane. Camping outside the Temple's main entrance, the Inquest movement saw escalation when a group ofUniversity of Coruscant students breached the Second Atrium of the public entrance during the early morning. As two Padawans attempted to calm the riotous students who were throwing graffiti bombs across the Atrium, MastersKoon andMundi quickly disposed of the marchers with a Jedimind trick. The students were then cuffed and handed over toJudicial officers and hauled away.[22] When the High Council decided to transport the child in question to theKamparasTraining Facility the protesters who had camped outside the complex for months began a rally led byFirris Palbert. Attempting to provoke the Jedi the group yelled intoloudhailers but were only met by JudicialCerisa Vosengoor who dismissed the claims of Jedi tyranny.[23]
When theClone Wars erupted across the galaxy the Temple became a major military planning center as the Jedi took up the mantle ofGeneral within theGrand Army of the Republic. WithJedi Command now reviewing and appraising all battle plans and major military campaigns, the High council was in near constant communications with theOffice of the Supreme Chancellor. ChancellorPalpatine and severalSenators would make several visits to the Temple during the war; an event that was, at most, uncommon pre-war time. The Temple began to show signs of wear as time once devoted to polishing marble floors and cleaning the bronzium gutters of the exterior was diverted to more urgent tasks such as maintaining the Order's spacecraft.[24]
Darth Sidious would continue to cause problems for the Temple during the war.Ten months into the warCountDooku, Head of State of theConfederacy of Independent Systems, led hisDroid Army and theDark AcolyteTrenox into the Temple on amission to destroy the invaluable Temple Archives. Jedi KnightAnakin Skywalker was at the Temple when the Sith led army entered the Archives and was able to kill Acolyte Trenox and defeat theC-B3 cortosis battle droids that sought to destroy the Stacks. While Skywalker dealt with the droids, Dooku was able to steal a preciousholocron from the repository of knowledge and flee the Temple unscathed.[25] TheTemple Library would soon after be attacked by Sith-employedbounty huntersCad Bane andCato Parasitti. Using schematics provided by Sidious, Bane circumvented the exterior defenses and was able to navigate the ventilation system with the help of Parasitti, who was stationed in the Library in the guise of MasterOrd Enisence. While Parasitti would be captured by PadawanAhsoka Tano, Bane was able to distract the other Jedi long enough for him to break into theHolocron Vault and escape the planet.[26]
Sometime in20 BBY one of the hangers of the Jedi Temple was bombed. A further investigation at the hands ofAnakin Skywalker and his PadawanAhsoka Tano led to the arrest ofLetta Turmond who planted nano-droids in to her husband, a Temple worker blowing up the hanger.
In19 BBY following theBattle of Coruscant and the work done by JudicialCaptainDyne, the High Council came to be suspicious of the Office of the Supreme Chancellor and linking Darth Sidious to influencing the Chancellor. It was eventually discovered by Knight Anakin Skywalker, following the defeat ofGeneralGrievous onUtapau, that Chancellor Palpatine and Darth Sidious were one and the same. Moving to remove the Sith, MastersMace Windu,Agen Kolar,Kit Fisto, andSaesee Tiin, left the Temple in the care of MasterShaak Ti andGate MasterJurokk. Turning off all nav beacons and signal lights, arming all of the older Padawans, and sealing all blast doors, the Temple was prepared for a Sith attack. Theduel with the Sith turned sour, however, as Jedi Knight Skywalker betrayed his masters and aided Sidious in the murder of Master Windu.[27] Sidious ordered that Skywalker, now Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith,raid the Temple with the assistance of the501st Legion.[28] Marching on the Temple steps, Vader slew the unsuspecting Gate Master Jurokk and began the brutal slaughter of every Jedi present.[24] While many Jedi were dying around the galaxy as part ofOrder 66, many of the Order's brightest died at the Temple. Vader stormed the Archives and slewChief LibrarianJocasta Nu as she refused access to theTemple beacon.[27]Jedi BattlemasterCin Drallig led a final stand of younglings and Padawans in the Fountain Room but was unable to defend his charges from the superior number ofblaster bolts.[24] Additionally,Three Jedi Masters attempted to retake the Archives from the 501st, but were all defeated.[28]
Although many Jedi andTemple employees died within the Temple that night, Jedi Master Shaak Ti[29] led a retreat of a group of several Padawans and their masters. MasterKazdan Paratus was another Jedi who escaped the Temple safely, fleeing toRaxus Prime to live in madness having failed to save the Temple.[29] Securing the building, Vader reported to his new master before being sent toMustafar to slaughter theSeparatist Council stationed there.[24]
Abandonment[]
"What might have been the wind wending into holed hallways never before penetrated sounded like the funeral keening of spirits waiting to be avenged. What might have been the resonance of the footfalls of Commander Appo's stormtroopers sounded like the beat of distant war drums. What might have been smoke from the fires that should have gone out weeks earlier seemed more like wraiths writhing in torment."
―Darth Vader's thoughts as he wanders the Temple halls[30]
The Temple's hallways after the Empire's assault.
Following theDeclaration of a New Order and the rise of theGalactic Empire the Sith used the Temple as a trap. Broadcasting a falsesignal to surviving Jedi telling them to return to the Temple as theClone Wars were over, the Empire planned to execute the survivors of Order 66 as they returned to their home.[3]Clone assassins, who were specially trained in killing Jedi, guarded the Temple beacon,[27] while clones disguised as Jedi patrolled the exterior to fool any who returned. Fortunately for the remaining Jedi, Grand Master Yoda and Master Obi-Wan Kenobi had been rescued by SenatorBail Organa and decided toreturn to the Temple and deactivate the beacon. Entering through a sublevel hangar, the Jedi slewDecoy Squad Five and made their way through the Temple until they reached thecentral security station,[24] where they defeated the clone assassins[27] and managed to recalibrate the beacon to warn the survivors to run and hide. While there, Kenobi delved into the security holos and confirmed his worst fear, the man behind the slaughter was Anakin Skywalker, his former student and friend. The two Jedi separated in order to hunt down the two Sith and kill them; neither succeeded but Vader was critically injured, setting back Sidious's expectations for him.[24]
After checking the names of the dead off against theArchives roster, the clone troopers dragged the bodies of the dead Jedi out onto the public steps and heaped them on a make-shift pyre for all passersby to see. In the days following the Temple's occupation, a group of Jedi gathered in the crowd outside the public entrance, though only one stepped forward. Thislone Jedi attacked the troopers stationed on the steps, urging his brother and sister Jedi to join him, only to be cut down by a hail of blaster fire.[31]
Vader would be sent back to the Temple by his master in order to retrieve theSith holocrons stored there. Vader knew this to be a test of his will, if he could pass through the Force-imbued Temple without succumbing to the horrors wrought there he would be commended. Vader was accompanied by Head ofImperial IntelligenceArmand Isard whose men had detected a hacker in the Archives. Vader suspected that it was Purge fugitivesRoan Shryne andOlee Starstone. While Isard got a location for the two Jedi, Vader wasn't able to get to them before they slipped away again.[30] The Imperials failed to detect PadawanEkria, who was able to slice into the database and delete all records of herself and fellow PadawansDrake Lo'gaan andZonder.[32]
Jedi and Sith were not the only visitors to the Temple following its abandonment.CaptainGregar Typho, the formerbodyguard of the deceased SenatorPadmé Amidala, broke into the Temple in an attempt to discover the cause of her death. While rummaging through the Temple Library Typho encountered the bounty hunterAurra Sing, who was searching the Temple for details on the whereabouts of the JediJax Pavan. In the resultingduel Sing was knocked unconscious and Typho escaped unscathed and none the wiser of Amidala's death.[33]
Ferus Olin and Trever Flume enter the Temple to find the rumored "Jedi prison".
With the Temple largely cleared of all valuable information by theDark Side Adepts, the Empire maintained a small presence to maintain defenses in the event of a Jedi intrusion.Grand InquisitorMalorum set up his office in the Temple, operating out of the formerliving quarters of the Grand Master. While Malorum was meeting with Darth Vader in the Temple's main levels, ex-JediFerus Olin and his friendTrever Flume infiltrated his office and began searching for information onPolis Massa on behalf of Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, who had ordered the mission. Eventually, Malorum and Vader returned to the office and, with no other choice, Olin and Flume leapt out the window and managed to escape toCoruscant's Underworld. Shortly after, Olin returned to the Temple, this time with MasterFy-Tor-Ana accompanying him and Flume. Using Master Ana's knowledge of the Temple's additions during the Clone Wars, the three were able to use a maintenance hatch to infiltrate theStorage Level. While searching for a rumored Jedi prison, the group would discover that in fact no prison was there, simply a large storage chamber filled with the lightsabers of their slain brother and sister Jedi and a motion sensor that would summonstormtroopers to their position. Fleeing through the Temple, the group discovered that the complex was rigged to implode using a device placed in the Temple's core by Inquisitor Malorum. Refusing to leave the Temple to be utterly destroyed, the Jedi and Flume raced to the Temple's reactor core and, using Flume's talents with explosives, were able to deactivate the weapon. While their mission seemed a success, Olin was captured by stormtroopers before he could follow Ana and Flume to safety.[34]
Olin managed to escape Sith custody several months later but struggled with the powers of a Sith holocron he had been given by Darth Sidious. Returning to the Temple to uncover the truth behind the supposed resistance leaderFlame, Olin realized that the woman was really working for the Empire. Olin attempted to contact the Resistance members that were meeting with the traitor but was unable to prevent their slaughter. Before escaping the Temple, Olin was confronted by the dreaded Sith Lord Darth Vader. Theconfrontation between Vader led Olin to the Chambers of the High Council before Olin was cut down in the High Council tower atrium. Believing Olin was dead, Vader left the Temple and his body to rot; however Olin was indeed alive and escaped the Temple for the final time.[35]
Activity at the Temple slowly dwindled to only a small group of troopers charged with keeping out intruders. Completely secured,Emperor Palpatine had some areas modified to encourage the idea that the ancient Order were indeed a cruel and malevolent threat all along. Archived data was changed to make Masters appear as corrupt as the Separatist leaders, and Sith statues further discredited the Order. All of this propaganda was set up in anticipation of Palpatine's guided tours through the Temple—an honor reserved for the Empire's most high-ranking members and the elite-of-the-elite. Stationed at every entrance,Shadow Troopers protected the Temple's treasures under the command ofImperial Senate Sentinels.[36]
In2 BBY, following years of undisturbed ruin, Darth Vader sent his secret apprentice,Starkiller, to the Temple to complete theJedi Trials. On Starkiller'sfirst mission he defeated the troopers stationed at the Temple steps and confronted the simulacrum of Sith LordDarth Desolous in theJedi Trials Chamber. Fighting the illusion, the assassin emerged victorious and left the Temple before reinforcements arrived. Soon after, Starkillerreturned and broke into the Archives to complete the Trial of Insight before hunting down the elusive Jedi Master Shaak Ti. In the Archives, Starkiller met blades with a simulacrum ofDarth Phobos and overcame her illusionary tricks before defeating her. It would be several months before Starkiller would return to finish his Trials, but this time he would do so on his own accord, not under the commands of Lord Vader. During thismission in the Temple, Starkiller entered theTower of First Knowledge and defeated the troopers stationed within. Entering into theHolocron Chamber, Starkiller was ordered by theGatekeeper of a large holocron to delve into the depths of the Temple and complete the Trial of the Spirit. Within the ruins of the Temple's basement, the assassin was able to defeat a mirror of himself and left the Temple for the third and final time.[36]
Standing as a symbol of what happens to those who defy the Empire, the Temple would survive past the destruction of the secondDeath Star,23 years after its initial abandonment.[37] It wasn't until theNew Republic drove the Empire from Coruscant that the Temple would be visited again. With the capitol in the hands of the Republic,Luke Skywalker traveled to the ancient edifice in order to learn what he could of his lost heritage. Once Skywalker decided to revive theOrder he invited one of his students,Tionne, to restore the Archives to their former glory and to add information from theGalactic Civil War.[9] Eventually the Temple's five towers crumbled during the catastrophe with theLusankya and were cleared away, their places filled with a newenclave that served as a diplomatic way-point and a training ground for new Jedi away from theJedi Praxeum onYavin 4.[38] It was here that Skywalker held hiswedding ceremony to MasterMara Jade.[39] The facility would remain in use until the Order was forced to withdraw back into hiding when theYuuzhan Vonginvaded the galaxy andcaptured Coruscant.[40]
During the war Masters Skywalker and KnightTahiri Veila journeyed to a "Vong-formed" Coruscant after receiving a dark vision. Along their travels along the planet's surface, the Jedi team was led to the Temple's ruins by a deranged figure known to the Coruscanti he had enslaved asLord Nyax. Amongst the ruins of the Temple the Jedi found Nyax's slaves hard at work destroying the old structures encasing the Force-nexus at the heart of the sacred spire. Determined to prevent a disaster in the Force, the Jediengaged Nyax in a fierce battle which saw the further destruction of the once mighty complex. Fueled by the unlimited wellspring that was the sacred spire, all four combatants were equally matched. Eventually Veila was able to injure Nyax havingdiminished her presence in the Force long enough to get close to the Dark Jedi. Usingrazor bugs to do her work, Veila pierced Nyax's armor deep enough to causing him to lose the battle. Before he could rise again twoYorik-et fighters opened fire on him and destroyed him. Before his death Nyax imbued his hate and despair on the sacred spire, muddying the Force energies emanating from its peak.[4]
Within weeks of Nyax's death, the imprisoned JediJacen Solo was chased to the ruins of the Temple byYuuzhan Vong warriors. Managing to get inside of an area that was still standing he was able to feel the dark energies of the place. He was rescued from certain death by his adopted teacher, the mysteriousVergere. Leading Solo through the ruins, Vergere brought him to a dimly lit room. From the vaulted ceiling hung glow globes which revealed dozens of Yuuzhan Vong warriors. Solo drew upon the Force energies which were laden with the dark side in order to destroy the hall, bringing down the ceiling of the room and crushing the Yuuzhan Vong warriors. Broken and injured, Vergere asked Jacen why, if the Jedi supported peace, they would knowingly build their Temple on a dark side nexus. Withholding information of the Nyax fight, and ignoring the events of Order 66, Vergere manipulated Solo by telling him that there was no light or dark side and therefore the nexus held no allegiances.[10]
After the Yuuzhan Vong War, theGalactic Alliance'sChief of StateCal Omas ordered that anew Temple be erected for theOrder. Using blueprints salvaged from the ruined Archives, theReconstruction Authority built the new Temple almost exactly as it had stood several decades before. However the structure did not lack its differences. A newtransparisteel andduracrete pyramid was built over the exterior, encasing the Council spires within it.[41] Many on thereformed High Council feared the determination to preserve the past was a sign that the Jedi could not move forward and would once again be tools of the government, rather than a dignified tribute to their ancient Order.[6]
After nearly a century of standing watch over Coruscant, the Temple was conquered in130 ABY and was renamed theTemple of the Sith afterDarth Krayt and hisnew Sith Order took control of theGalactic Empire. With the transparisteel pyramids stripped away Krayt redesigned the Temple so that its appearance caused fear and forced obedience. From the central stone pyramid smoke constantly billowed filling the Precinct with a dreary smog.[42]
It was subsequently retaken by the Galactic Alliance and the New Jedi Order in138 ABY and returned to its orginal design.
Layout and architecture[]
"Don't the Jedi have this reputation for, well, austerity?" "They like you to think that, yes! But have big honking Temple on Coruscant! Not come cheap!"
The Temple's halls were constantly filled with pairs of Jedi quietly moving about their daily duties.
A massive structure which soared over a kilometer above the surrounding rooftops, the Jedi Temple had the appearance of a fortress but was really a place of meditation and gentle reflection. Located in a strategically isolated area of Coruscant which neighbored theSenate District, the Temple rested on a large city block in theTemple Precinct. Concealed within the heart of the Temple ziggurat was the upper reaches of theSacred spire, a towering mountain that jutted from the crust of the planet deep below. The upper most summit of the mountain erupted from the top of the Temple's base and formed the foundations of its central tower,Tranquility Spire. Surrounding the tallest tower's finned peak were four shorter towers located on the ordinal-oriented sides of the complex. Each contained an austere Council Chamber at its summit and served as the meeting rooms of the fourJedi Councils. The ziggurat shape of the edifice, coupled with the five spires, was designed to symbolize a Jedi's climb to enlightenment through the Force.[1]
The Temple, separated from the surrounding city sprawl by the sprawling Temple Court dotted withbronzium statues of long dead Jedi heroes and scholars, was accessed primarily by theProcessional Way. This broad promenade which bisected the Court and led to the stairs of the main entrance was crowned by four bronzium statues. The outer statues depictedWarrior Masters with their lightsabers ignited, while the two inner statues were depictions of two hoodedSage Masters. Beyond these statues, a series of monolithic pylons stood amid the entrance courtyard. Standing four across and three back, the front pylons were adorned with reliefs depicting theFour Masters; Jedi who helped found the Temple in ancient times. The entrance staircase beyond these pylons led into the Temple's cavernous main hall, which stretched beyond to the formalGreat Hall. The main hall's pillars and soaring mezzanines stretched out and around the base of the Temple, connecting with the other three formal entrances and forming the Temple's support structure.[1]
Three other entrance to the Temple were located on the other cardinal-oriented sides of the Temple: the northern public entrance was reserved for non-Jedi visitors and consisted of several public annexes. To ensure the safety and privacy of the Temple, fivePadawans were tasked with guarding the Temple during the day, while twoKnights would oversee the watch in the evening. All guard duties Temple-wide were overseen by theJedi Gate Master.[44] Following the Temple's destruction during theYuuzhan Vong War, theReconstruction Authorityrecreated the ancient edifice almost perfectly. The stairs were reconstructed without the statues of the Four Masters, while the main hall had extra security systems built in. Security droids were stored in several pillars along the hall, controlled byTemple Security and programmed to detain any intruders that might break into the Temple.
Construction on the Temple worked its way from the central, natural mountain outward over the centuries in a circular pattern before the structure took on its ziggurat form. The Temple could be divided into wings or quarters for administrative purposes; though for the Jedi, the Temple was a unified entity and utilized by almost every Jedi since its conception until theGreat Jedi Purge. Each quarter was crowned by the tower of the Council which held authority over the specified chambers in the sector of the Temple. The northwestern quarter of the Temple was overseen by theCouncil of First Knowledge, a body which ran theJedi academy of Coruscant. Located in this quarter, the Academy was attended by every member of the Order, while graduation came upon an initiate's selection for further training by a Jedi Master.[45] In the southwestern quarter, theHigh Council maintained its headquarters and housed the offices of theJedi Service Corps. The diplomatic heart of the Order, this area also housed many training facilities for the practice of lightsaber combat along with facilities where Jedi could build or repair their lightsabers with the help of a weapons specialist. Because most of the Temple was restricted to the Order's members only, the northeastern area under theCouncil of Reassignment was dedicated to the Public Center. Located in the southeastern quarter was the administrative headquarters of the Order, an area furnished with manygardens and offices used by theCouncil of Reconciliation.[1]
Spires[]
The five towers of the Jedi Temple.
Fully rebuilt in1019 BBY as part of the last major expansion of the Temple complex, the five towers of the complex were supported by a highly-tensile substance known as magnate, which aided in the support of the thin frame of the towers. The central and tallest tower, known asTemple Spire, was built over the last visible peak of the sacred spire and was the tallest structure for kilometers. Traditionally the most important tower, Tranquillity held the mostsacred chamber in the complex which held the ancient texts of the founding Jedi, some of which having survived from Ossus.[46] Temple Spire contained theHall of Knighthood near its summit, meditation chambers farther below, large memorial statues of the most revered Jedi suspended in the tower byrepulsorlift pads, then the peak of the mountain around which the Temple was constructed. The peak was surrounded by a meditation balcony with a lower balcony presenting a series of holo-depictions of the history of the Order. The smallest younglings were brought here by their masters for their first introduction into Jedi knowledge. From this point the ancient meditation chapels of the sacred spire were accessible via stone bridges, passage through which led deep into the mountain's core. On the northern slope was located theChamber of Conclave, a place that hosted an annualconclave where outlying Jedi reported to the High Council on important events or projects.[1]
Crowned with a set of high-gain transmission antennae, the spires served as a means for thecommunication center to stay in contact with the thousands of far-flung worlds across the stars.Jedi Command was based out of the Towers during the Clone Wars and maintained aSituation Room in each with a constant connection to theHoloNet. The largeOperations Planning Center below the Council Chamber was a open air room with a holomap upon which hotspots across the galaxy could be analyzed by the Councils. The southwestern spire known as theHigh Council Tower was home to the Jedi High Council, the governing body of the entire Order. Thenorthwestern tower held themeeting place of theCouncil of First Knowledge, the leaders of the Jedi academy on Coruscant. Across from this Spire stood theReassignment Council Tower from which the Council handled the organization of work for young Initiates who had not been chosen by Jedi Masters to become apprentices. To the southeast of this tower was theTower of Reconciliation; the Council that sat in thesechambers sought to find peaceful settlements to political disputes across the Republic.[1]
Near the central spire's base was an ancient gnarled tree with golden boughs. Lightsaber training classes were held by the tree during the time of the Clone Wars.[47]
Temple Ziggurat[]
The Temple Ziggurat.
Having expanded outwards from the sacred spire several times over the millennia in a circular pattern, the Temple Ziggurat could be dissected in shells to see the history of the place. Directly around the sacred spire were the ancient meditation chambers and grand stone structures that made up the original enclave. These temples, chapels and sanctuaries were some of the largest in the entire Temple and were capable of housing hundreds of Jedi at a time. By the time of the Clone Wars, many of these ancient halls had fallen out of use and were dusty relics of a grander era. As the Temple Precinct rose to modern levels and the Temple Court took shape, the Order built outward and upward erecting towering stone buildings which served as office space and dormitories. Stone towers and obelisks which jutted up from the mountain and its rocky outcroppings were labyrinthine in design and later abandoned by the much of the Temple's occupants. By the time of the Clone Wars, only the eldest Jedi Masters had the skill to navigate the ancient designs of the oldest Temple structures and unlock the secrets hidden within. The ancientlibrary and study halls were built above the main entrance, a monolithic chamber wherebronzium statues lined the main entry mezzanine.[2] As time progressed, the stone structures were covered with a darkdurasteel outer layer which incorporated red stone, giving the Temple a dark and sedated appearance from the exterior.[1] What eventually became the base of the Temple's Ziggurat was made up of columns and supports which held the structure up. The construction of theRoom of a Thousand Fountains, the ceiling of which reflected the sky of a terrestrial garden world,[12] and other Meditation Gardens brought to the Temple a rediscovered sense of nature and harmony not found elsewhere on the city-covered world. TheLake Level,[18] and an expansivemenagerie beneath the Temple brought additional places of natural beauty and study to the Temple's halls.[48] TheDetention Center was built above the Fountain room and used to contain the Sith Lords and theircreatures that ran rampant during the early Republic era. The Temple's architects brought in recovered materials from Ossus that had been stored atExis Station and incorporated them into the Temple's design. Marble tiles were placed in halls and chambers while a portion of a recovered stained-glassarcade were placed in the Meditative Walkway that ran the perimeter of the Temple's base. At each corner, chapels were built to mirror the aspects of the Force reflected in the towers that would be constructed upon the Temple rooftop later in its history.[1]
One of the mezzanines running along the base of the Ziggurat.
While there were many attacks on the Temple during the early years of the Republic, it would continue to be restored and rebuilt stronger than before. Following the rebuilding of the Temple in3500 BBY, several decades after theSacking of Coruscant, the Temple was once again home to the Order and its academy which had previously transferred to the Order's homeworld ofTython.[2] Repurposing of architectural treasures saw the old library and its study halls transformed into a museum of Temple history and a formal banquet hall after theJedi Archives were established in2519 BBY. The Temple's structure continued to expand through2000 BBY and eventually the Temple's spires were rebuilt in1019 BBY signaling the end of all major expansions to the Temple. The pale stone exterior finished, the Temple now shone out as a bright beacon of hope and a firm reminder of the strength of the Order. Statues, memorials, and gardens covered the roof of the Ziggurat, along with wide open plazas which doubled as landing platforms for visiting diplomats. Clerestories were incorporated into the roof to allow natural light to spill into the Temple's halls and gardens, while the rest of the Temple was lit with a soft, soothing blue light.[1] Theaccommodation sector of the Temple was crafted so that the rooms could be adjusted to make the many species of Jedi comfortable through the use of specialized atmosphere adaptors.[49]
In the years leading up to theClone Wars, it was noted that the Temple, particularly the exterior, was suffering from neglect. Flaking paint was evident around the mid to lower levels and long green streaks from bronzium gutters ran down the sloping walls. Electrochemical corrosion was occurring where molded metal sheets had lost cathodic insulation buffers.[1] The massive architecture of the Temple was capable of concealing many of thetransparisteel windows, imbued withpermem to help maintain a constant gravity balance, and balconies that stemmed from the structure.[1] The ventilation system of the Temple funneled all outward air out throughray shield-protected vents that were hidden in an overhang near the roof.[26] Plumbing concerns were run through municipal water ways, with small alcoves for access to the machinery built into the walls of the tunnels.[19] During theSeparatist Crisis, hangars were constructed in each of the four Council towers to houseDelta-7Aethersprite interceptors, and the laterEta-2Actis interceptor model. The hangars each had an extendible landing platform[1]
One of the cavernous hallways of the Jedi Temple.
While war broke out around it, the Temple managed to maintain some of its normality. The rooftop gardens continued to fuel the Order through therefectories and kitchens. Located near the Tower of Reconciliation were the gardens overseen by MasterYoland Fee. All food that Fee could not grow was shipped into the Temple by food companies and deliver in lower level hangars.[34] The Jedi academy held an annualApprentice Tournament along with other special tests open to all members of the Order in a specializedsparring arena. The tests held here were used to monitor a students abilities as well as expose them to the scrutiny of Jedi looking for potential candidates for apprenticeship.[1]
When the Temple was raided and ruined, the interior architecture was pock marked and riddled with blasterfire. The ceiling was collapsed in areas and pillars crisscrossed ancient halls. Marble floors were cracked and bookshelves toppled. The stormtroopers stationed at the Temple had blocked off areas by erecting large blastdoors, sealed off to all but the Emperor himself. On the outside the Temple simply looked like a burnt-out husk of its former self, a testament to fighting the Empire.[3]
Behind the scenes[]
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The interior layout of the Jedi Temple was heavily detailed byChristian Piccollo who was the artist responsible for creating the cross-section of the Temple for the book,Star Wars: Complete Locations. It was this depiction which first placed the location of theJedi Archives, main entrance, and the first depiction of thesacred spire at the heart of the Temple.
Main article:New Jedi Temple
