Great Temple of Nexþei
The Great Temple of Nexþei is one of the greatest temple complexes built by the Mörkels on the Plain of Kings, located in the city of Nexþúrot, capital of Outer-Dagtí in the eastern part of the region.
The main building is made up of sanctuaries to the trinity of deities the temple is dedicated to, namely Nexþei, goddess of freshwater and healing, Elútar, god of the Ellú River and Peiþena, goddess of the Draapei River, along with a great hall where those suffering from serious injuries or illnesses are treated. The latter part was originally just a fenced off area, but modified to offer shelter to both the sick and the people working at the shrine.
The temple itself is built on top of a step-pyramid made of rammed earth, with paths, benches, statues and small altars found on each of the four tiers and ringed with hedges and small trees, beyond which are various temples and the homes of priests, priestesses and healers. Lower-ranking priest and priestesses spend most of their day outside, where they receive visitors suffering from ailments of all sorts and variously give offerings to the gods on their behalf, give blessings in the form of incantations and amulets, or simply allow the sick to rest there for a little while. The guests may also be given a sip of rainwater from sacred vessels as panacea.
Those in more serious conditions are brought to the temple, where they are treated by healers while higher-ranking priests and priestesses perform various rituals, including libations, playing instruments and, in some cases, sacred dances.
The main building is made up of sanctuaries to the trinity of deities the temple is dedicated to, namely Nexþei, goddess of freshwater and healing, Elútar, god of the Ellú River and Peiþena, goddess of the Draapei River, along with a great hall where those suffering from serious injuries or illnesses are treated. The latter part was originally just a fenced off area, but modified to offer shelter to both the sick and the people working at the shrine.
The temple itself is built on top of a step-pyramid made of rammed earth, with paths, benches, statues and small altars found on each of the four tiers and ringed with hedges and small trees, beyond which are various temples and the homes of priests, priestesses and healers. Lower-ranking priest and priestesses spend most of their day outside, where they receive visitors suffering from ailments of all sorts and variously give offerings to the gods on their behalf, give blessings in the form of incantations and amulets, or simply allow the sick to rest there for a little while. The guests may also be given a sip of rainwater from sacred vessels as panacea.
Those in more serious conditions are brought to the temple, where they are treated by healers while higher-ranking priests and priestesses perform various rituals, including libations, playing instruments and, in some cases, sacred dances.
Architecture
The Great Temple is built in similar style to other sanctuaries and palaces in the region, though on grander scale. The framework is made of wood, some acquired from Kanix Forest far to the north, with stone foundations, thatched roof and wattle-and-daub walls. While parts of the temple exterior are decorated with floral imagery, the columns, door- and window frames within are all painted in bright colours, with an emphasis on green, blue and white, and frescoes showing mythological scenes adorn the interior walls.
In the past, the roof in the great hall before the sanctuaries had an opening so that rainwater could be collected in a shallow pool there, which has now been closed to prevent the building from being flooded during particularly heavy rains. The pool is now instead used for offering libations to the gods.
In the past, the roof in the great hall before the sanctuaries had an opening so that rainwater could be collected in a shallow pool there, which has now been closed to prevent the building from being flooded during particularly heavy rains. The pool is now instead used for offering libations to the gods.
History
The temple complex started off as a simple shrine to Nexþei on a low hill, which was gradually expanded on, first by adding the altars and later sanctuaries to Elútar and Peiþena. As Nexþúrot grew from a town to a bustling city, the area in front of the temple was enclosed both to mark the sacred boundaries and provide some privacy to the people visiting the site. The earthen mound was later built for the same purpose as the area south of the complex developed into a market, as well as to add to the temple's prestige.
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