Earth

Earth is green and inhabited, with its vegetation restored. It is depicted in religious art as a green and blue, cloud-streaked world. Its native forests included the woods of England. Native trees from Earth were transplanted via Avalon to other worlds, and their descendants grow in the Royal Forest on Forum. The planet was once home to major human cities including Rome, London, Washington, Jerusalem, Constantinople, Beijing, Tokyo, and Singapore. Washington -- known as the City of Pyramids and the Domain of Columbia -- is located on the shores of the Potomac River. Rome also exists as a surviving city, containing the Aventine Hill where the Chantry's inner Order had a priory. Earth has gardens and castle structures. The white pyramids of the Mericanii machines that rose on Earth have been rebuilt.

Earth is the original home of humanity and the cradle of human civilization and, following the destruction of Forum, has become once more the center of human civilization. The Holy Terran Chantry publicly teaches that Earth has "departed," while secretly maintaining control of a living, green, inhabited planet. Chantry liturgy includes invocations such as "The Earth has left us, vanished into the Dark" and "Blessed are we, the children of the departed Earth" and "The stars are ours, said Mother Earth!" Earth is depicted in Imperial art as a golden-haired female figure and as "Mother Earth" -- the founding mythology of the Empire depicts Mother Earth as a crowned naked giantess brandishing a sword whose blade is sunlight. The Chantry emblem depicts "the face of Mother Earth" with continents embossed on its surface. Selene, Empress-Consort, was taken to Earth following Hadrian's capture and died there. Emperor William was also transported to Earth at his death, with the announcement "William the Great has gone to Earth." Earth serves as both a literal and symbolic destination for significant Imperial figures. Earth's continued habitation and renewal remains the Chantry's most closely guarded secret from the wider galaxy.

Earth is located in the Spur of Orion within Imperial Space and has become the de facto capital of the human galaxy following the destruction of Forum. The Holy Terran Chantry controls Earth and its surrounding system; the Chantry Sentinel order, also called the Knights of the Order of the Cult of Mother Earth, is stationed primarily there with every Sentinel's armor bearing the icon of Earth on the breast. The Chantry's inner Order, called the "Princes of Earth" or "Sons of Earth," steers the Imperium from Earth through a shadow kingdom. The High Patriarch of the Chantry holds the title "High Priest of Earth Herself" and resides on Earth. Chantry daimons are manufactured on Earth. Alexander VI rules the Sollan Empire from Earth as the Chantry's instrument. The Emperor rules from Avalon, ruled in turn by Earth. The Emperor of the Sollan Empire holds formal titles including "Firstborn Son of the Earth" and "Servant of the Servants of Earth." The destruction of Earth during the Foundation War is called the Advent. The Royal Victorian Knights were constituted in the Golden Age when Emperors yet ruled a portion of Earth. Pre-Sollan Imperial arsenals bore the inscription "EMPIRE OF EARTH AND SUN."

The gray hills of Earth were the original site of the Arch of Titus, a Roman monument later transported offworld to Forum. Washington -- called the City of Pyramids or Domain of Columbia -- is located on the shores of the Potomac River. Rome contains the Aventine Hill, site of a priory belonging to the Chantry's inner Order. America contains rebuilt white pyramids, originally constructed by the Mericanii machines.