Fountains of Wisdom

The Fountains of Wisdom were a set of contemplative water features located in Ga-MetruGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh., the water district of the underground city of Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive.. They stood within the same district that housed the Great TempleGreat TempleThe Great Temple is a structure situated in Ga-Metru, Metru Nui, associated with the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. It formerly fell under the influence of Teridax, though it currently holds no such power., NokamaNokamaNokama served as Toa Metru of Water, endured the Hordika mutation, and led Ga-Koro and later Ga-Metru as Turaga through three eras.'s classroom, the Protodermis LabsProtodermis LabsThe Ga-Metru research facility where Ga-Matoran scholars first documented the destiny rule governing energized protodermis transformations., the Ga-Metru DocksGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh., the Matoran Recharge CenterMatoran Recharge CenterA Metru Nui feeding station where Matoran absorbed energy once yearly, destroyed in the Great Cataclysm and repaired long after., and the Protodermis FallsProtodermis FallsThe waterfall of liquid Protodermis in Ga-Metru, central to the water district's purification work and bound to the fate of the substance that flowed through Metru Nui., and they served the Ga-MatoranGa-MatoranThe Water-element Matoran of Ga-Metru and Ga-Koro, exclusively female, who taught the schools of Metru Nui and crewed the boats and bridges of the Mata Nui coast. population of the district as a place of reflection in keeping with the contemplative, education-oriented culture of the water city.

Setting in Ga-MetruGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh.#

The Fountains of Wisdom stood in Ga-MetruGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh., the water district of Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive. and the most peaceful of the six MetruMetruIn the Matoran language a metru was a single district of Metru Nui; the city was divided into six such districts, one for each element, and the term covered both the place and the elemental community that lived in it. that made up the city. Ga-MetruGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. was the principal centre of education and spiritual learning in Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive.. Its institutions housed the schools and research laboratories where the various properties of ProtodermisProtodermis LabsThe Ga-Metru research facility where Ga-Matoran scholars first documented the destiny rule governing energized protodermis transformations. were studied, with the substance refined and purified in the district before being distributed to the other five MetruMetruIn the Matoran language a metru was a single district of Metru Nui; the city was divided into six such districts, one for each element, and the term covered both the place and the elemental community that lived in it. for use. The Ga-MatoranGa-MatoranThe Water-element Matoran of Ga-Metru and Ga-Koro, exclusively female, who taught the schools of Metru Nui and crewed the boats and bridges of the Mata Nui coast. ran these classes, with a small number of Ko-MatoranKo-Koro GuardThe defensive force of Ko-Koro on Mata Nui, also known as the Sanctum Guard, drawn from Ko-Matoran trained for vigilance in the icy peaks. admitted for the more technical disciplines.

Within that district the Fountains of Wisdom belonged to the same network of named civic and spiritual sites as the Great TempleGreat TempleThe Great Temple is a structure situated in Ga-Metru, Metru Nui, associated with the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. It formerly fell under the influence of Teridax, though it currently holds no such power. itself, the most spiritually significant location on the island and the second most important landmark in the city after the Coliseum. The other named Ga-MetruGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. locations in the chronicled record were NokamaNokamaNokama served as Toa Metru of Water, endured the Hordika mutation, and led Ga-Koro and later Ga-Metru as Turaga through three eras.'s classroom, the home of VhisolaNokamaNokama served as Toa Metru of Water, endured the Hordika mutation, and led Ga-Koro and later Ga-Metru as Turaga through three eras., the Protodermis LabsProtodermis LabsThe Ga-Metru research facility where Ga-Matoran scholars first documented the destiny rule governing energized protodermis transformations., the Ga-MetruGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. Docks, the Matoran Recharge CenterMatoran Recharge CenterA Metru Nui feeding station where Matoran absorbed energy once yearly, destroyed in the Great Cataclysm and repaired long after., and the Protodermis FallsProtodermis FallsThe waterfall of liquid Protodermis in Ga-Metru, central to the water district's purification work and bound to the fate of the substance that flowed through Metru Nui.. The Fountains stood among these, sharing the contemplative character of the district and providing a fixed feature within its public spaces.

Role and use#

The chronicled record describes the Fountains as fountains of an unspecified type, with the canonical entries acknowledging only their existence, location, and exposure to the wider damage that the district sustained. Their cultural function followed from the character of the district they stood in. Ga-MetruGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. was the most spiritually inclined of the six MetruMetruIn the Matoran language a metru was a single district of Metru Nui; the city was divided into six such districts, one for each element, and the term covered both the place and the elemental community that lived in it., centred on the Great TempleGreat TempleThe Great Temple is a structure situated in Ga-Metru, Metru Nui, associated with the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. It formerly fell under the influence of Teridax, though it currently holds no such power. and on schools in which the Ga-MatoranGa-MatoranThe Water-element Matoran of Ga-Metru and Ga-Koro, exclusively female, who taught the schools of Metru Nui and crewed the boats and bridges of the Mata Nui coast. trained both in ProtodermisProtodermis LabsThe Ga-Metru research facility where Ga-Matoran scholars first documented the destiny rule governing energized protodermis transformations. science and in the philosophical traditions of the city. The Fountains, sited within that district, served as a complement to those institutions, a place at which Ga-MatoranGa-MatoranThe Water-element Matoran of Ga-Metru and Ga-Koro, exclusively female, who taught the schools of Metru Nui and crewed the boats and bridges of the Mata Nui coast. and visiting MatoranThe Matoran CouncilThe governing body of the sunken city of Mahri Nui, a rotating council of Matoran leaders who met monthly in the Council Chamber of the Mahri Nui Fortress to plan the city's future, distribute the gifts from above, and decide the response to the Barraki incursion. from other districts could pause for reflection.

Their proximity to the Great TempleGreat TempleThe Great Temple is a structure situated in Ga-Metru, Metru Nui, associated with the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. It formerly fell under the influence of Teridax, though it currently holds no such power. placed them within the same processional and ceremonial zone of the city. The Toa SuvaSuvaSuva were the sacred shrines of Matoran civilisation, holding Toa Stones, Kanohi, and Nuva symbols across Mata Nui, Metru Nui, and beyond. at the Great TempleGreat TempleThe Great Temple is a structure situated in Ga-Metru, Metru Nui, associated with the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. It formerly fell under the influence of Teridax, though it currently holds no such power. was the first to be established in Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive. and the only SuvaSuvaSuva were the sacred shrines of Matoran civilisation, holding Toa Stones, Kanohi, and Nuva symbols across Mata Nui, Metru Nui, and beyond. in the city for most of the Toa MetruWhenuaToa Metru of Earth and later Turaga of Onu-Koro, formerly an Onu-Metru archivist whose career in the Archives shaped his role across the rescue of Metru Nui and the long residency on Mata Nui.'s active period. Pilgrimages of MatoranThe Matoran CouncilThe governing body of the sunken city of Mahri Nui, a rotating council of Matoran leaders who met monthly in the Council Chamber of the Mahri Nui Fortress to plan the city's future, distribute the gifts from above, and decide the response to the Barraki incursion. to the Great TempleGreat TempleThe Great Temple is a structure situated in Ga-Metru, Metru Nui, associated with the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. It formerly fell under the influence of Teridax, though it currently holds no such power. passed through Ga-MetruGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh., and the Fountains were among the fixed civic features that visitors would have encountered on those journeys.

The Great CataclysmThe Great CataclysmThe day Makuta Teridax put the Great Spirit to sleep, the Great Spirit Robot fell from the sky, Metru Nui flooded, and Voya Nui tore loose from the Southern Continent. and the ruin of the district#

The Fountains were at least partially destroyed during the Great CataclysmThe Great CataclysmThe day Makuta Teridax put the Great Spirit to sleep, the Great Spirit Robot fell from the sky, Metru Nui flooded, and Voya Nui tore loose from the Southern Continent., the seismic event that struck Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive. shortly after the comatose collapse of the Great SpiritMata NuiBuilt by the Great Beings to restore Spherus Magna, Mata Nui sustained an entire civilisation inside his body, was deposed by Teridax, and reclaimed his purpose as a mortal on Bara Magna.. The Cataclysm followed the destabilisation of the Great Spirit RobotThe Great CataclysmThe day Makuta Teridax put the Great Spirit to sleep, the Great Spirit Robot fell from the sky, Metru Nui flooded, and Voya Nui tore loose from the Southern Continent. and reduced large parts of the city to rubble. Ga-MetruGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. suffered along with the rest of the MetruMetruIn the Matoran language a metru was a single district of Metru Nui; the city was divided into six such districts, one for each element, and the term covered both the place and the elemental community that lived in it.. The district was broken open in multiple places, vital samples of ProtodermisProtodermis LabsThe Ga-Metru research facility where Ga-Matoran scholars first documented the destiny rule governing energized protodermis transformations. leaked away from the ruined laboratories, and the VahkiProtodermis LabsThe Ga-Metru research facility where Ga-Matoran scholars first documented the destiny rule governing energized protodermis transformations. order-enforcement units stationed in the district were destroyed.

The damage to the Fountains is recorded as partial rather than total. The canonical entry is explicit that they were at least partially destroyed, leaving open the possibility that some structural elements survived the initial collapse. Whatever portion remained was left exposed to the long period of decay that followed.

After the CataclysmThe Great CataclysmThe day Makuta Teridax put the Great Spirit to sleep, the Great Spirit Robot fell from the sky, Metru Nui flooded, and Voya Nui tore loose from the Southern Continent., the abandoned city was overrun by the VisorakBirth of the RahagaNorik and Iruini's rescue of their captured Toa Hagah comrades from a Brotherhood of Makuta fortress, the recovery of the Avohkii, and Roodaka's Rhotuka mutation that left all six survivors as Rahaga. horde and reshaped into a hunting ground. The VisorakVisorak (Rahi)Spider-like Rahi employed by the Brotherhood of Makuta whose name meant 'Stealers of Life' and whose swarms threatened the Matoran Universe. species that took up residence in Ga-MetruGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. was the BoggarakBoggarakA Visorak subspecies specializing in deception and illusion, Boggarak served as Roodaka's personal guard during the Metru Nui invasion.. The district's network of canals, classrooms, and laboratory complexes was wrapped in webs and converted into BoggarakBoggarakA Visorak subspecies specializing in deception and illusion, Boggarak served as Roodaka's personal guard during the Metru Nui invasion. territory, with the broken Fountains caught within that environment alongside the rest of the ruined infrastructure.

Restoration by the Staff of ArtakhaThe Staff of ArtakhaA restoration artifact forged by Artakha himself, used by Helryx to reverse the environmental damage of the Great Cataclysm.#

The Fountains of Wisdom were repaired approximately 1,001 years after the Great CataclysmThe Great CataclysmThe day Makuta Teridax put the Great Spirit to sleep, the Great Spirit Robot fell from the sky, Metru Nui flooded, and Voya Nui tore loose from the Southern Continent. by the action of the Staff of ArtakhaThe Staff of ArtakhaA restoration artifact forged by Artakha himself, used by Helryx to reverse the environmental damage of the Great Cataclysm.. The Staff was a powerful artefact of ArtakhaArtakhaArtakha was the master craftsman of the Matoran Universe, ruler of a hidden island, and the forger of the Toa Mata, the Avohkii, and the Kraahkan., and the canonical record credits it with restoring the broken infrastructure of Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive. to its pre-Cataclysm state. The repair was carried out as part of the larger restoration that prepared the city for the return of its MatoranThe Matoran CouncilThe governing body of the sunken city of Mahri Nui, a rotating council of Matoran leaders who met monthly in the Council Chamber of the Mahri Nui Fortress to plan the city's future, distribute the gifts from above, and decide the response to the Barraki incursion. population, and the Fountains were named alongside the other elements of Ga-MetruGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. infrastructure that the Staff returned to working condition.

The restoration extended beyond Ga-MetruGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh.. The Staff's effect reached across the entire city, undoing the structural damage to all six MetruMetruIn the Matoran language a metru was a single district of Metru Nui; the city was divided into six such districts, one for each element, and the term covered both the place and the elemental community that lived in it. at once. Within Ga-MetruGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. the Great TempleGreat TempleThe Great Temple is a structure situated in Ga-Metru, Metru Nui, associated with the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. It formerly fell under the influence of Teridax, though it currently holds no such power., the Protodermis LabsProtodermis LabsThe Ga-Metru research facility where Ga-Matoran scholars first documented the destiny rule governing energized protodermis transformations., NokamaNokamaNokama served as Toa Metru of Water, endured the Hordika mutation, and led Ga-Koro and later Ga-Metru as Turaga through three eras.'s classroom, the Protodermis FallsProtodermis FallsThe waterfall of liquid Protodermis in Ga-Metru, central to the water district's purification work and bound to the fate of the substance that flowed through Metru Nui., the Ga-MetruGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. Docks, and the Matoran Recharge CenterMatoran Recharge CenterA Metru Nui feeding station where Matoran absorbed energy once yearly, destroyed in the Great Cataclysm and repaired long after. were among the named locations that returned to function alongside the Fountains. The repaired city served as the home of the MatoranThe Matoran CouncilThe governing body of the sunken city of Mahri Nui, a rotating council of Matoran leaders who met monthly in the Council Chamber of the Mahri Nui Fortress to plan the city's future, distribute the gifts from above, and decide the response to the Barraki incursion. population once they had been brought back from the surface island of Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years. following the awakening of the Great SpiritMata NuiBuilt by the Great Beings to restore Spherus Magna, Mata Nui sustained an entire civilisation inside his body, was deposed by Teridax, and reclaimed his purpose as a mortal on Bara Magna..

Later history and final status#

The Fountains remained part of restored Ga-MetruGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. through the period in which the MatoranThe Matoran CouncilThe governing body of the sunken city of Mahri Nui, a rotating council of Matoran leaders who met monthly in the Council Chamber of the Mahri Nui Fortress to plan the city's future, distribute the gifts from above, and decide the response to the Barraki incursion. population reoccupied Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive.. They figured in the same civic life that the rebuilt district supported, alongside the rebuilt schools and laboratories. The chronicled record gives no further dedicated narrative for the Fountains during this period, and they continued in the role they had filled before the CataclysmThe Great CataclysmThe day Makuta Teridax put the Great Spirit to sleep, the Great Spirit Robot fell from the sky, Metru Nui flooded, and Voya Nui tore loose from the Southern Continent., as fixed contemplative features within the most peaceful district of the city.

The eventual end of the Fountains as an active site followed the reformation of Spherus MagnaThe Great CataclysmThe day Makuta Teridax put the Great Spirit to sleep, the Great Spirit Robot fell from the sky, Metru Nui flooded, and Voya Nui tore loose from the Southern Continent.. After the Mata Nui BeingMata NuiBuilt by the Great Beings to restore Spherus Magna, Mata Nui sustained an entire civilisation inside his body, was deposed by Teridax, and reclaimed his purpose as a mortal on Bara Magna. reformed the shattered world and the surviving populations of the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control. and Bara MagnaThe Great CataclysmThe day Makuta Teridax put the Great Spirit to sleep, the Great Spirit Robot fell from the sky, Metru Nui flooded, and Voya Nui tore loose from the Southern Continent. emerged onto the unified planet, Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive. was abandoned once more. Ga-MetruGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh., the Great TempleGreat TempleThe Great Temple is a structure situated in Ga-Metru, Metru Nui, associated with the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. It formerly fell under the influence of Teridax, though it currently holds no such power., the Protodermis LabsProtodermis LabsThe Ga-Metru research facility where Ga-Matoran scholars first documented the destiny rule governing energized protodermis transformations., the Protodermis FallsProtodermis FallsThe waterfall of liquid Protodermis in Ga-Metru, central to the water district's purification work and bound to the fate of the substance that flowed through Metru Nui., and the Fountains of Wisdom were left to stand without their population. The Fountains' physical structures, restored a thousand years earlier by the Staff of ArtakhaThe Staff of ArtakhaA restoration artifact forged by Artakha himself, used by Helryx to reverse the environmental damage of the Great Cataclysm., remained intact within the empty city as the MatoranThe Matoran CouncilThe governing body of the sunken city of Mahri Nui, a rotating council of Matoran leaders who met monthly in the Council Chamber of the Mahri Nui Fortress to plan the city's future, distribute the gifts from above, and decide the response to the Barraki incursion. and the rest of the universe's inhabitants moved out onto Spherus MagnaThe Great CataclysmThe day Makuta Teridax put the Great Spirit to sleep, the Great Spirit Robot fell from the sky, Metru Nui flooded, and Voya Nui tore loose from the Southern Continent..