Beauty

Beauty, also erroneously known as The Temple of Beauty, is a major temple of Helena considered to be the largest on Theras and located in Sharakzizir.

Design

The temple has a magical statue of Helena at its center shifting in appearance, made of gold, emerald, sapphire, ivory, ruby, pearl, and topaz. Rose petals constantly fall from thin air around the statue, slowly fading out as they land, and slowly fading in when they fall. Divine Blue Jays, made of gems, constantly fly in the temple, primarily gathering near the statue. These birds were animated statues made in honor of Helena; when Helena visited the temple herself during The Gods War, she showed her approval of Beauty by leaving some of her birds behind.
The statue attempts to imitate, at lease somewhat, Helena's appearance; though it constantly shifts, the hair is always adorned with rubies. The body is made either of gold or ivory; the eyes are made of either emerald or sapphire; and the birds are made of topaz or pearls. The statue's figure and facial features look different for every viewer, matching their ideal of beauty.

Cultural Importance

As is fitting for Yojeku beauty ideals, the temple is operated solely by Rgai-Quessiri, from the archpriestess, through the clergy, and to the custodians and menials.
With the temple's expansions, large galleries were added in order to store the myriad of artpieces looted in past Yokun Empire military campaigns. After the second expansion galleries were completed, the Lady of the Rgai, Tsereben Ahergai, decreed that in any case of future wars, artpieces are never to be destroyed but either looted or be brought as an offering to the temple.
The temple holds the legendary Seven Pebbles of Hantzu, a set of seven polyhedral baubles (dehi in Yojetei) given to Ikh Bei-Tur by Helena when he built Sharakzizir. Each pebble is made of a different material: a gold coin, an emerald tetrahedron, a sapphire cube, an ivory octahedroan, a ruby decahedron, a pearal dodecahedron, and a topaz icosahedron.

Founding Date

723 - 798 AB (construction);
904 - 912 AB (expansion);
998 - 1004 AB (expansion)

Type

Cathedral / Great temple

Parent Location

Sharakzizir