Xel'naga temple

"Behold, there is a temple, not far from here, that lies upon ground most hallowed. Though I have born witness to the passing of countless millennia, the temple which you must assault is older by far. For it was constructed by my creators, the Xel'Naga, and it marks the site where the Xel'Naga first set foot upon Aiur."

- The Overmind

A xel'naga temple is a xel'naga structure, found on various worlds. Some temples have special functions. The most renowned temple was created by the xel'naga on the world of Shakuras; it was used by the protoss to destroy the zerg which had infested the world.

The term "temple" is a misnomer, as there is nothing to suggest any form of worship took place in them. However, the name has stuck.

Recently a number of temples have begun unearthing themselves drawing the attention of archaeologists such as Valerian Mengsk and Jake Ramsey.

Temples of Alamar
The temples of Alamar emit unstable electrical energy. The temples were surrounded by jungles which could only grow around them.

Temples of Aiur
Aiur is home to numerous xel'naga temples.

First Temple
The first protoss temple on the xel'naga-engineered world of Aiur was built on the spot where the xel'naga first set foot on Aiur.

It was destroyed by the zerg so the Overmind could manifest itself physically on Aiur.

Velari Temples
The Velari Templar School houses a number of temples, including an "inner" temple, and a "lower" temple hidden within ever-shifting catacombs. The lower temple housed the Kassia crystal, a potent xel'naga artifact.

Ziggurat
Main article: Ziggurat (map) "I can't believe my eyes. I finally found what I had been looking for all this time on Aiur. After evading the Terran blockade and quarantine of Aiur, dodging countless Zerg patrols both on the ground and in the air, and starving for the last two weeks, I've finally seen my dream take shape before my very eyes. I've found the Ziggurat, and it's more beautiful than I can imagine. I can die now a happy man."

- Final Transmission of Dr. Frederick Thompson, Xenoarchaelogist

The Ziggurat is a protoss temple on Aiur discovered by the terran xenoarchaeologist Dr. Frederick Thompson.

Enslavers Temple
An important temple on Aiur maintained a protoss base. It if was destroyed, the energy backlash would destroy the protoss structure.

In the unused branch of StarCraft: Enslavers, the Terran Dominion invaded Aiur, despite being warned off by Aldaris, in order to destroy the Schezar's Scavengers. Believing Alan Schezar's ability to control cerebrates to be based on technology plundered from a temple, the Dominion forces destroyed the temple nearest to the Scavengers' base. Doing so created an energy backlash which destroyed the structures in the protoss base.

Temple of Aridas
The xel'naga hid the powerful Argus Stone in a temple in the city of Taledon on the world of Aridas. The planet was eventually settled by terrans. Protoss Crusaders under the command of Judicator Kizrath traveled to the planet seeking the Stone. Upon finding the temple, they destroyed it in order to retrieve the Stone.

Temple of Artika
A xel'naga temple is located on Artika. A battle between the zerg, protoss and Dominion Marine Corps was fought here after the Brood War. The protoss won but with heavy losses, causing some to question whether the victory was worth it.

Temple of Bhekar Rho
The terran-colonized world of Bhekar Ro is home to another xel'naga temple. It was unearthed due to a powerful windstorm and activated when a terran approached too closely. The temple absorbed him.

The temple was surrounded by khaydarin crystals and appeared to be organic, possessing curves and angles giving it "the appearance of a cathedral built by overambitious insects." Shapes and runes are located on the outer shell. Studies on the temple were limited due to a battle which erupted among the terrans, protoss and zerg; all three races sent members within the temple in an attempt to learn its secrets (and prevent the other races from gaining any information from it). The terrans dropped a nuke on it, but the temple absorbed the energy and reached its full potential, absorbing the nearby zerg and protoss but discarding all of its terran victims (who emerged alive). The top of the temple was blasted open by an energy creature which had absorbed the genetics of both zerg and protoss. The temple released its excess energy, greatly enhancing crops nearby.

The remaining structure was "pulverized" and all of its secrets were lost. Little data was taken due to the bloody battle that took place around and within it.

Temples of Braken
The temples of Braken were destroyed during the Great War. It is associated with prophecies which claim that "he who harnesses this world will someday wield great a power, sanctified by the ancient ones".

Temple of Monlyth
A temple on Monlyth was used by the xel'naga for burial.

Temple of Nemaka
The temple of Nemaka, a formerly life-bearing world whose air was driven off by a massive meteorite collision, has been described as "wild". It was discovered about eleven years before the Brood War but was only briefly recorded by bored marines. At that time, the temple was "alive" with a green glow. It was surrounded by dozens, possibly hundreds of khaydarin crystals.

In 2503 the temple was investigated by Jake Ramsey, an archaeologist hired by Valerian Mengsk. By this time, the temple was dead, at least on the outside, and something had cracked open the top from the inside (Ramsey believed this was the same type of energy creature seen on Bhekar Ro). Ramsey entered the temple using one of dozens of oval-shaped holes and eventually used the Golden Mean formula to enter its heart. There he found the near-dead Zamara, a protoss mystic, who planted her memories (and many others) into his head using the powers of the temple itself. Ramsey fell ill and the planet was abandoned by the terrans.

Temple of Pegasus
The temple on Pegasus, described as "wild", went undiscovered by the terrans despite a 2501 expedition. Zamara, a protoss preserver, was aware of it and directed Zeratul to it in 2503. The temple's energy creature emerged when the prelate arrived and both travelled to a gathering of energy creatures in space. Zeratul entered the wormhole created by the creatures.

Temple of Xil
Xil housed a xel'naga temple holding an artifact. It was defended by the Tal'darim. Its doors were hard to breach, requiring a powerful Drakken laser drill to do it. The artifact was taken by Raynor's Raiders for the Moebius Foundation, after breaking the doors using the laser drill.

Temple of Shakuras
The temple of Shakuras consists of a pyramid-shaped structure with a small floating crystalline top, and appeared very different (and larger) than the temple on Aiur. The Uraj and Khalis crystals were required to channel the temple's energies. The temple's effects may be able to reach out in space.

It was protected by a shield.

Crystals inside "sing", and are revered by the guardians of the temple. The temple contains mysteries such as a substance with a smell similar to the drug Sundrop.

Compared to the "wild" temples which housed energy creatures, it has been described as "structured".

History
The xel'naga constructed the temple above a nexus of powerful cosmic energies. When the Dark Templar found it, they decided to remain on Shakuras to study it.

During the Brood War, two cerebrates infested the temple grounds. They were killed at the command of Matriarch Raszagal.

Praetor Artanis and Dark Prelate Zeratul took the crystals to the temple and the Executor held off the zerg while they channeled the temple's energies. Once this was done, the protoss withdrew into the temple. The resulting explosion obliterated the zerg on Shakuras.

The protoss studied the temple after the Brood War and derived several technological advancements from the discoveries. Most of the temple's new guardians were from the Shelak Tribe, rather than Nerazim. The guardians had access to deep lore which they protected zealously. These secrets included a sweet-smelling substance.

The temple was activated again when Amon assaulted Shakuras.

Amon's temple
Emil Narud built Skygeirr Station on top of Amon's temple, situated on a ringed world. The temple housed five smaller ones, which amplified Narud's powers. Alexei Stukov deactivated them, allowing Sarah Kerrigan to overcome Narud and momentarily incapacitate him. Entering Amon's temple, the two did battle, with Kerrigan emerging victorious.