Post by Dutch on Jul 29, 2015 12:02:30 GMT -5
The Jedi Temple is the headquarters of the Jedi Order. Home to its major training, bureaucratic and dormitory facilities, most Jedi start their journey down the Jedi Path here. Jointly operated by the Order and the Galactic Republic, the Temple was sealed to all but the Jedi and their allies, with very few public areas.
A massive structure which soared over a kilometer above the surrounding rooftops, the Jedi Temple was a place of meditation and gentle reflection. Located in a strategically isolated area of Coruscant which neighbored the Senate District, the Temple rested on a large city bloc in the Temple Precinct. Concealed within the heart of the Temple ziggurat was the upper reaches of the Sacred 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 for the Jedi Councils. The ziggurat shape of the edifice, coupled with the five spires, was designed to symbolized a Jedi's climb to enlightenment through the Force.
The Temple, separated from the surrounding city by the sprawling Temple Court dotted with bronzium statues of long dead Jedi heroes and scholars, was accessed primarily by the Processional 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 depicted Warrior Masters with their lightsabers ignited, while the two inner statues were depictions of two hooded Sage 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 the Four 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 formal Great 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.
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, five Padawans were tasked with guarding the Temple during the day, while two Knights would oversee the watch in the evening. All guard duties Temple-wide were overseen by the Jedi Gate Master.
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. 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 the Council of First Knowledge, a body which ran the Jedi academy of Coruscant.
In the southwestern quarter, the High Council maintained its headquarters and housed the offices of the Jedi 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 the Council of Reassignment was dedicated to the Public Center. Located in the southeastern quarter was the administrative headquarters of the Order, an area furnished with many gardens and offices used by the Council of Reconciliation.
*Credit to the Wookiepedia page:http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Jedi_Temple