The Public Entrance of the Jedi Temple was the only area of the Temple that non-Jedi were admitted without express permission of a representative of the Jedi Order.
Built within the Temple Ziggurat, this entry way was destroyed and rebuilt several times in the Temple's long history, seeing completion no later than 1,000 BBY under the Galactic Republic.[1]
During the Separatist Crisis a major public outburst in response to Jonava Billane's claims regarding the Order's way of inducting their members saw an incident within the public entrance. Begging for public help as she demanded her 'kidnapped' daughter's return, she inspired a group of university students to march on the Temple. With pre-programmed graffiti-bombs and cries of popular People's Inquest slogans, they managed to breach the Second Atrium. As Padawans tried to calm the students, Jedi High Council members Koon and Mundi quickly disposed of the marchers with a suggestion strengthened by the Force.[3]
At the end of the violent Clone Wars, Dark Lord of the SithDarth Sidious ordered the 501st Legion of the Grand Army of the Republic to attack the Temple and eradicate all those Jedi within. Led by Darth Vader, the clone troopers stormed the Temple and executed its occupants, damaging the Temple in the process.[2] After checking the names of the dead off against the Archives roster, the troopers dragged the bodies of the dead Jedi out onto the public steps and heaped them on a make-shift pyre for all passersby to see. In the days following the Temple's occupation, a group of Jedi gathered in the crowd outside the public entrance, though only one stepped forward. This lone Jedi attacked the troopers stationed on the steps, urging his brother and sister Jedi to join him, only to be cut down by a hail of blaster fire.[5]
Located on the northern face of the Temple Ziggurat, the public entry way resembled the main entrance, though it did not make use of the grand pylons or the bronzium statues that the formal entrance had. At the top of the stairs was an open plaza which led up to the pillared staircase which ascended into the Temple. Beyond the stairs were no less then two atrium which connected with the restricted mezzanines that delved deeper into the Temple. As the rear entrance, it was closest to the edge of the Temple Precinct, overlooking the great crevice separating the area from other buildings.[5]