Temple of the Godking

The Temple of the Godking stands as a visible marker of imperial and religious authority at the Place of the Tombs of Atuan, a sacred precinct in the Kargad Empire. Unlike the ancient, ruinous Hall of the Throne and the windowless cube of the Temple of the Twin Gods, the Temple of the Godking is a showier and centuries newer structure. It features a high portico and a row of thick white columns with painted capitals, each a solid log of cedar brought on shipboard from Hur-at-Hur, where forests grow, and dragged by the straining of twenty slaves across the barren plains to the Place. Its roof, newly gilt, flashes the day back in glory, making it a bright landmark for travelers approaching from the east, who see it wink and glitter beneath the mountains before they perceive the older temples higher up on the Hill of the Place.

Location and Physical Description

The Temple of the Godking is situated on a little knoll below the Hall of the Throne, which itself sits higher on the Hill of the Place. From a distance, the gold roof of the Temple of the Twin Gods can be seen glittering beneath the mountains, but the Temple of the Godking, with its bright columns, is equally conspicuous. The building is a cube of stone, plastered white, windowless, with a low porch and door. The cedar logs used for its columns were a costly import, dragged by slaves across the barren plains, underscoring the wealth and reach of the Godking's cult even in this remote desert location.

Religious and Social Role

The Temple of the Godking is one of three temples within the Place, alongside the Hall of the Throne and the Temple of the Twin Gods. It serves the cult of the Godking, the ruler of the Kargad Empire, who is worshipped as a deity. The High Priestess of the Godking, Kossil, is a powerful figure within the Place, second only to the High Priestess of the Twin Gods, Thar, and the One Priestess, Arha. The temple's priestesses, like Mebbeth, oversee the daily disciplines of the girls who serve there, including weaving, fishing, and other chores. The temple also plays a role in the ritual life of the Place, though its rites are distinct from the older, more secretive worship of the Nameless Ones at the Tombs.

Contrast with Other Temples

The Temple of the Godking is explicitly contrasted with the older, more austere temples. The Hall of the Throne is described as tawny and ruinous as the desert itself, with patched walls and a flattish, crumbling dome, while the Temple of the Godking is bright and newly gilt. The Temple of the Twin Gods is a windowless cube, plastered white, lacking the showy portico and painted columns of the Godking's temple. This architectural contrast reflects a theological and political hierarchy: the Godking's cult is a newer, more imperial import, while the worship of the Nameless Ones and the Twin Gods is older and more deeply rooted in the land. The Godking himself, though a living deity, could not enter among the Tombstones, and even he had to eat and sleep outside the wall around the Place, indicating the limits of his power within the most sacred precincts.

Narrative Significance

The Temple of the Godking is a setting for several key events in the story of the Place of the Tombs. It is where Penthe, a friend of Arha, expects to serve after she turns fourteen, entering the Godking's temple. The temple's High Priestess, Kossil, is a stern disciplinarian who whips Penthe for climbing the Men's Wall, demonstrating the strict enforcement of rules within the Place. The temple's presence also highlights the political and religious tensions within the Kargad Empire, as the Godking's cult competes with older traditions for dominance. The temple's bright, gilded roof, visible from afar, serves as a constant reminder of the Godking's authority, even in this remote desert outpost.