Solomon's Temple

Solomon's Temple
Political information
Factions	Assassins Knights Templar
Historical information
Date founded	Construction finished 951 BCE
Additional information
Assassination targets	Robert de Sable (failed)

Solomon's Temple, or Holy of Holies, was the biblical First Temple of the Jews, originally constructed by King Solomon on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. It was designed to hold the Ark of the Covenant, and a Piece of Eden.

History

The Assassins Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, Malik Al-Sayf and Kadar Al-Sayf were sent by Al Mualim to retrieve and secure the Templar treasure located here in 1191. Upon arrival, Altaïr violated the first tenet of the Creed by murdering an innocent, elderly man, whom Altaïr believed could have alerted the guards.

The Assassins found Robert de Sable and four of his men in the temple's primary chamber, about to reach the Piece of Eden. Altaïr broke the second tenet by exposing himself to his target. Robert deflected the charge and told the Assassin to deliver a cryptic warning, before hurling Altaïr through a support beam, and cutting him off from the chamber and his Brothers.

Altaïr quickly realized he couldn't get back to his brothers, and, believing that the mission had failed, returned to Masyaf to report the events to Al Mualim, leaving Malik and Kadar for dead. However, just after Altaïr had returned to Al Mualim five days later, Malik appeared and it was revealed that he had managed to retrieve the Piece of Eden, though losing his left arm and his brother in the process. Altaïr's arrogant actions and violation of the three tenets of the Creed in Solomon's Temple led to his demotion to the rank of Novice.

Months later, after Altaïr attempted to assassinate Robert at the funeral of Majd Addin, Malik, now the Rafiq of Jerusalem, returned to the chambers beneath the temple and found Robert's journal, apparently discarded during the struggle to retrieve the Piece of Eden. Through reading it, he discovered Al Mualim's involvement in locating the treasure with the Templars, and his true intentions for the artifact. 

Trivia

• When looking above the ceiling, one can see light passing through the cracks between the rocks.
• The relief where Altaïr confronts Robert de Sable is modeled after the historical site of the Treasury at Petra, in Jordan.

Gallery

Altaïr, Malik and Kadar in the tunnels beneath the temple

Malik and Kadar witness Altaïr killing an innocent

The tunnels leading to the temple

The main entrance to the temple

The main chamber with the Ark of the Covenant

The Ark of the Covenant

Altaïr facing Robert

The collapsed entrance

The side chamber

Altaïr at the top of the side chamber

Jerusalem, as seen from the inner temple

Diagram of Solomon's Temple

Reference

• Assassin's Creed