The Temen-ni-gru is an unholy tower constructed by devil worshippers. Originally sealed by Sparda deep underground, Arkham and Vergil have resurrected it in the present day.^[1]

Contents 1 Story 1.1 Before Devil May Cry 3 1.2 Devil May Cry 3 2 Floors 2.1 First Floor 2.2 Second Floor 3 Background 4 References

StoryEdit

Before Devil May Cry 3Edit

It was sealed two thousand years in a complex ritual requiring Sparda to confiscate the names of fallen angels representing the seven deadly sins, imprison the tower's five gatekeepers, and seal away Leviathan^[2] as well as his own demonic power. Sparda, in the depths of the tower, let flow his own blood and that of a pure priestess, sealing the tower and his own accursed power. As an added level of security, Sparda also created the Perfect Amulet and split it in two such that both halves would be needed to awaken the Sword of Sparda.

Devil May Cry 3Edit

Arkham explains to Vergil that resurrecting the tower is the way to obtain his father's ultimate power, so they begin to undo the seals Sparda placed on the tower. Vergil first renames the fallen angels, and then sends Arkham, along with some demons, to persuade Dante to come to the tower so that he can complete the Amulet. Soon after, they raise the tower and begin the rituals to awaken it. Arkham's daughter, Lady, is also enticed to enter the tower, but Arkham keeps her importance as a descendant of the priestess a secret from Vergil, who works on undoing Sparda's spell in the "Lair of Judgement", a sacrificial chamber at the bottom of the tower. Meanwhile, the mysterious demon Jester leads Dante to Vergil, with Dante slaying all the gatekeepers in his way.

Vergil places the completed Amulet in the control panel and begins bloodletting himself, but is unsuccessful in undoing the final seal. When Dante intrudes upon him, he attacks Dante in the hope that more of "Sparda's blood" will solve the problem, but nothing happens until Lady joins the fight and Arkham arrives. He reveals his identity as Jester, and that the final key to the seal is Lady's blood. After undoing the seal, he stalls the three fighters, taunting them for falling right into his trap, until the Tower activates and they fall off the central platform. As the platform rises through the tower, collecting huge, demonic bells representing the seven sins, the others race to the top to stop Arkham. However, he reaches the peak of the tower and calls upon the sins in a chant which unseals the final door to the Demon World. As the demonic bells ring and Blood-goyles flock around him, Arkham rises into the Demon World and takes the Force Edge, assuming Sparda's form and power. Although the portal to the Demon World has been shut closed it is unknown what happens to the Temen-ni-gru after Devil May Cry 3 as it is last place seen where Dante returns Lady's bazooka.

FloorsEdit

First FloorEdit

• Ice Guardian's Chamber - the first room of the Temen-ni-gru, where Cerberus the Ice Guardian is chained.
• Chamber of Echoes - A tall, open space surrounded by spiraling stairs and decorated with statues of skeletal angels. It serves as the nexus of activity early in the game.
• Entranceway
• Living Statue Room - The Enigma statues adorning this room come to life to attack Dante. Here, the Vajura is used to obtain the Soul of Steel.
• Silence Sanctuary
• Chamber of Sins
• Cursed Skull Chamber

Second FloorEdit

• Chamber of Echoes
• Incandescent Space
• Giantwalker Chamber - Where Gigapede is first encountered.
• Endless Infernum - The catwalk collapses the first time Dante attempts to cross it. The Soul of Steel allows him to then cross the empty void.
• Surge of Fortunas
• Heavenrise Chamber
• The Divine Library

BackgroundEdit

The Temen-ni-gru's name may be a reference to the Neo-Sumerian Great Ziggurat of Ur, named "E-temen-nigur(u)" (lit. "house whose foundation creates terror") in Sumerian. It was a structure built to serve as both an administrative center of the city, and as a shrine to Ur's patron diety, the moon god Nanna, or Sin. Temen-ni-gru's use to worship sin as immorality is a pun on this.

The Temen-ni-gru's design draws heavily from the mythological Tower of Babel, especially the painting of it made by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. While the Tower of Babel was built to invade Heaven, the Temen-ni-gru was built as a gateway to Hell.

The seven demonic bell statues left throughout the tower are a reference to the seven deadly sins: Pride, Covetousness (Greed), Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Anger (Wrath), and Sloth. In Mission 04, the background music that plays as Dante explores the tower contains a deep, guttural voice which sometimes says "Pride, Covetousness, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Anger, Sloth".

ReferencesEdit