Landmark, in Places
Temple of the Circles
The Temple of the Circles is a refined Uinheit temple in The Muses district of Arakcadia, dedicated to a circle of related deities including Sehanine, Athea, and Isa. It is known for its quiet atmosphere, central fountain, and carefully maintained interior — qualities that distinguish it from the louder entertainment character of the Muses district surrounding it. The Temple of the Circles offers a contemplative refuge within the most energetic district of the city.
The temple's dedication to a circle of deities rather than a single patron deity reflects a practice within Uinheit theology of grouping related divine concerns under a single roof. Sehanine — the deity of moons, planets, and trickery — is accompanied by Athea and Isa. Athea and Isa are minor deities of the night sky, held to be Sehanine's companions.
Architecture
The Temple of the Circles is named for and defined by its circular motif, which appears throughout the architecture: circular floor arrangements, circular window frames, the central circular fountain, and carved circular symbols associated with the venerated deities. The circular form carries theological meaning within the worship tradition of this temple — the circle as emblem of cyclical divine time, the moons' orbits, and the self-completing nature of the divine relationships being venerated.
The central fountain is the most distinctive interior feature. Its sound — a constant low trickle in the quiet of the temple — contributes to the contemplative atmosphere and serves a ritual function in certain worship practices.
Deities
Sehanine
Sehanine is the deity of moons, planets, and trickery within the Uinheit pantheon, belonging to the middle group (the enint). Her presence in the Temple of the Circles reflects her domain over the moons — whose movements give the gaeadas of the Canaanese Calendar their name — and her association with cycles and change. Her worship in the Muses district draws on her trickery as much as her moons, and performers from the surrounding theatres are among her most regular visitors.
Athea and Isa
Athea and Isa are minor deities of the night sky, venerated in this temple as Sehanine's companions. Outside the Temple of the Circles they receive little formal worship.