Crown-shrine of a Thousand Wings

It is a most magnificent example of classical Aviani architecture from its golden age. Exquisite in detail, symbolic in nature - the monarch truly becomes the link between heaven and world there, either crowned or buried. Prof. Victoria von Rechtsbern

Purpose / Function

Crown-shrine of a Thousand Wings is the most significant building of the Avian monarchy. The temple serves as a place of coronation and the site of burial for all "Winged" Kings and Queens of the Aviani. This elevates the shrine to divine status, as the monarch is thought to be crowned and taken after death directly by the gods, making it the connection between the two realities.

Architecture

Overview and style

The shrine is located on and below a steep mountain, ending at one side with a cliff which borders a valley. It consists of an entrance building at the very feet of the mountain, an enormous decorated staircase leading to the top, a mausoleum combined with a shrine on the peak and a terrace that ends at the edge of the cliff. Built in the Aviani classical style, all buildings of the temple complex have a strongly emphasised vertical axis which is meant to symbolise the connection between the place of worship and the worshipped. This is achieved by erecting tall main structures and focusing all decorative elements towards the sky. Another characteristic feature is the contrasting of very minimalist facade elements with overly ornamented ones. This is meant to show the reality of life as being both sometimes rich and sometimes simple.

Description of main complex structures

The crown-shrine complex can be divided into four primary structures:

1. Entrance - a building with a floor plan in the shape of a plus, acting as the cleansing grounds for all who enter. Inside there is a bath of an upside dome shape located at the very centre. Above rises a 20-meter tall pyramid roof which is characterised by stacked sections of flat stone interlayered with ones that are very decorated with ornamentation and spires;
2. Stairway - it consists of 500 large steps, flanked to both sides by identical wing sculptures (this is where the complex gets its name from). The steps are connected with walkable stairs that run through the perfect middle of each level. The steps and stairs are chiselled out of bare rock and all elements are covered with glazed white paint;
3. Shrine - a large domed building with a circular floor plan. It serves as both the coronation and burial grounds, with each grave of a previous monarch being represented by a sculpture of their feather containing their heart.
4. Terrace - it overlooks the valley and is the place of the climax for both ceremonies held within the crown-shrine. It is from here that the newly crowned monarchs descend into the valley to be greeted by the waiting people and it is from here that their ashes are spread when they die.

Type

Temple / Religious complex

As I here stand, so here I ascend. part of the coronation oath