Revenge Of The Sith's Jedi Temple Scenes Revealed One Lost Secret Of The Order

One scene in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith hints at the ancient history of the Jedi Order. Little is known of the origins of the Jedi Order, although sourcebooks have revealed they first established the Jedi Temple on Coruscant 5,000 years ago – at roughly the same time the order suffered a schism, with one rogue group creating the rival Sith Order. The Coruscant temple was built atop an ancient dark side shrine, with the Jedi hoping their light could balance out that darkness.

The Jedi Temple on Coruscant was originally one of many, with the Jedi Order actually based on the planet Jedha. Over the centuries, though, it became increasingly important – likely because of its closeness to the Republic Senate. But who founded it, and how were those ancient Jedi different to those seen in the prequels? Surprisingly, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith dropped a massive hint.

Revenge Of The Sith Secretly Revealed The Four Founders Of The Jedi Temple

Statues That Reveal The Secret History Of The Jedi Order

During Order 66, Anakin Skywalker led clone troopers up the steps of the Jedi Temple to slaughter the Jedi within. As he did so, he passed by four statues, dedicated to the four masters who first built the temple. Known as the Four Masters, these were divided into the Warrior Master and the Sage Masters. The inclusion of these statues in the film suggests that the Order was originally divided into two distinct paths: warriors who fought to protect peace and sages who sought to understand the mysteries of the Force.

This division highlights a fundamental aspect of the Jedi philosophy, where the balance between action and contemplation was key to maintaining harmony within the galaxy. Curiously, though, it is something that was lost with time; the Jedi of the Clone Wars were ill-prepared for war, struggling to deal with the desire for domination that comes with it. These ancient Jedi were apparently far more active as protectors of peace than their prequel counterparts.

The Four Founders Hint At The Ancient Origin Of The Jedi Order

There’s A Striking Duality To The Order

The fact that the Four Founders include both warriors and sages is a deliberate choice that reflects the dual nature of the Jedi Order. On one hand, the Warrior Masters embody the physical and martial aspects of the Jedi, dedicating their lives to defending the Republic and combating the forces of the dark side. On the other hand, the Sage Masters represent the scholarly and spiritual pursuits, focusing on deepening their connection to the Force and preserving knowledge.

This duality is essential to understanding the Jedi’s role in the galaxy. It also hints at the potential for conflict within the Order, as the balance between these two paths could easily tip towards one side, leading to the downfall of the Jedi. This is perfectly illustrated in Revenge of the Sith, at a time when the Jedi lost their balance through war.