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- "The holocrons contain the most closely guarded secrets of the Jedi Order."
- ―Jocasta Nu
Holocrons were information-storage datacron devices used by both the Jedi Order and the Sith that contained ancient lessons or valuable information in holographic form. Jedi holocrons were also called Jedi datacrons. They appeared as palm-sized, glowing polyhedrons of crystalline material and hardware, and could only be activated and used through the power of the Force.
Description
A holocron with a 12-sided dodecahedral geometry
Holocrons were information-storage devices that could fit in the palm of the hand. It was common for them to be shaped like evenly proportioned polyhedra, with facets made from a crystalline material. Some had transparent outer shells that allowed their users to perceive their inner mechanisms, and they glowed when activated. While known Jedi holocrons were cubes and dodecahedrons,[1] those built by the Sith were usually identified by their pyramidal shapes. They functioned similarly to their Jedi counterparts, and contained the ancient secrets of the dark side and the Sith Order.[9]
Holocrons acted as repositories of vital, sensitive knowledge and wisdom pertaining to the nature and use of the Force, a mystical energy field that connected all living things in the galaxy. Data playback typically took the form of an interactive hologram resembling the person who recorded the information. Given the sensitive nature of the lessons they contained, many such devices were equipped with a security mechanism that granted access only to those keenly attuned with the Force. Additionally, many holocrons could only be activated if paired with a specific memory crystal.[1]
If a Jedi holocron and a Sith holocron were opened together by a lightsider and a darksider, they would fuse and be able to answer any question the users desired. Holocron fusions were incredibly uncommon, due to the rarity of having a lightsider and darksider work together, and by the Galactic Civil War knowledge of the practice was mostly lost.[10]
History
Over the centuries hundreds of Jedi holocrons were made. Valuing those artifacts both for their invaluable lessons and historical signifiance, the Jedi kept them in the Archives of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. The most valuable specimens were locked away in the restricted Holocron Vault.[1]
During the Clone Wars, Cad Bane executed a daring heist to steal one of these artifacts from the Vault.[8] After Darth Sidious founded the Galactic Empire and ordered the Jedi Purge, holocrons became scarce remnants of a bygone era.[11]
Some time after the end of the Clone Wars, Grakkus the Hutt obtained a number of Jedi Holocrons that he kept on Nar Shaddaa.[7] These were later taken by Darth Vader to further impede possible Jedi training.[12]
Behind the scenes
Holocrons made their first canon appearance in "Holocron Heist," is the premiere episode for Season Two of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series.[8] However, they were originally developped by Tom Veitch and Cam Kennedy for the Legends comic series Dark Empire, published by Dark Horse Comics in 1991-1992.[13]
Industrial Light & Magic master modelmakers Don Bies and John Goodson crafted three holocrons (a cubic one, a pyramidal one, and a dodecahedral one) to be photographed for page 29 of the Legends reference book Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: The Visual Dictionary by Dorling Kindersley, which was released in 2002.[14] All three props have since reappered in canon reference books, including Ultimate Star Wars,[1] Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia,[15] and Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary, New Edition.[16]
Real-life holocron replicas are available for sale a Galaxy's Edge, a Star Wars-themed land at Disneyland.[17]
Appearances
Non-canon appearances
LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "A Hero Discovered"- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "The Lost Crystals of Qalydon" (Indirect mention only)
- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "The Pit and the Pinnacle"
Sources
- Cad Bane in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Ultimate Star Wars
- Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know
- Star Wars: Complete Locations
- Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia
- Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
- Star Wars Lightsabers: A Guide to Weapons of the Force
- Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary, New Edition
- Star Wars: The Dark Side
- Ahsoka Tano in the Databank (backup link)
- Cad Bane in the Databank (backup link)
- Holocron in the Databank (backup link)
- The Force in the Databank (backup link)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Ultimate Star Wars
- ↑ Star Wars Lightsabers: A Guide to Weapons of the Force
- ↑ Kanan 1: The Last Padawan, Part I: Fight
- ↑
"[[Tales from Wild Space: The Blue Brothers]]" — Star Wars Adventures (2017) 13
- ↑ Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion
- ↑ Star Wars Rebels: Steps Into Shadow
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Star Wars 9: Showdown on the Smuggler's Moon, Part II
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Holocron Heist"
- ↑ The Secret Jedi: The Adventures of Kanan Jarrus: Rebel Leader
- ↑ Star Wars Rebels — "The Holocrons of Fate"
- ↑ Holocron in the Databank (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars 12: Showdown on the Smuggler's Moon, Part V
- ↑ "Holocron Heist" Trivia Gallery - The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link (tv-shows/clone-wars/holocron-heist-trivia-gallery) not verified!) (slide 3 caption)
- ↑ Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: The Visual Dictionary
- ↑ Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia
- ↑ Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary, New Edition
- ↑ Lightsabers, Droids, and Holocrons—The Incredible, Immersive Merchandise of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge by Beth Deitchman, published by D23 The Official Disney Fanclub on d23.com (May 29, 2019) (backup link not verified!)
