Temple of the Kyber

The Temple of the Kyber, also known as the Temple of the Whills or simply the Kyber temple, was a great temple located in the Holy City, a large, walled city on the cold, desert moon of Jedha. The temple, rising high above the city wall, was held sacred by those who followed the teachings of the Church of the Force. The Temple was destroyed when the Galactic Empire tested the first Death Star's superlaser on the Holy City. Previously, the temple had been looted of the kyber crystals it contained, and the Guardians of the Whills, the temple's guardians, sent out into the street.Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
==Description==
The Temple of the Kyber was located in the Holy City on Jedha. There were tunnels that led to the temple underneath, which had kyber crystals growing on the roof and in the ground. Lining the tunnels were 2,304 statues made entirely out of kyber. One statue in particular depicted a Jedi battling a serpent-like creature. The tunnels were guarded by the temple's guardians, who protected the temple as their solemn vow.Galaxy's Edge 3
==History==
===High Republic Era===
During the High Republic Era, Keth Cerepath worked at the Temple of the Kyber. When the Prospector Saretha von Beel arrived on Jedha after a job gone wrong, he offered to ask the Disciples of the Whills if she could stay at the Temple, but she declined. Around the same time, the Firebird of Colsassa, one of the 2,304 works of sacred art was stolen from the Temple of the Kyber.The High Republic (2022) 2 Former Guardian of the Whills Tey Sirrek and the two Jedi Vildar Mac and Matthea Cathley took it upon themselves to find the thief. They visited the Temple of the Kyber, but when they arrived the Guardians pointed their Lightbows at them, because Sirrek had once betrayed the Guardians.
===Dok-Ondar's Heist===
During the early Imperial Era, Dok-Ondar along with Hondo Ohnaka and Quadoro successfully managed to steal one of the statues lining the tunnels underneath the temple. Dok-Ondar stated that the statue he took must've been at least 2000 years old, being able to tell from the growth of kyber at the base. He also stated that the statue must've been carved by a Jedi with their lightsaber. The group faced many guardians of the temple when entering to retrieve the relic, however they all were defeated by Hondo and his blaster. Only when leaving did the group face Chirrut Îmwe, who was able to both dodge Hondo's blaster bolts and disarm him. Dok-Ondar was able to reason with Îmwe, stating that the statue was only one of 2,304 statues that lined the tunnels underneath the temple. Dok-Ondar also stated that the statue was of specific importance to him, as he inherited one of the same statues from his parents when they died. After hearing Dok-Ondar's reasoning, Îmwe allowed him and Hondo to leave with the statue.
==Behind the scenes==
The Whills first appeared in the original drafts of A New Hope as an equivalent name for the Force.Star Wars: The Annotated Screenplays The term appeared in a smattering of Legends sources, such as the A New Hope novelization, and was made canon in 2015 when the novelization of the film Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens referred to the Journal of the Whills.
Early concept art for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story used the Temple of Pomojema as a setting, before the Temple of the Kyber was developed to replace it.The Art of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
==Appearances==
==Sources==
==Notes and references==
Category:Jedha City locations
Category:Temples