Yanjon Zelmar

"Collectors should keep an eye out for statues of the Four Sages of Dwartii—Sistros, Braata, Faya, and Yanjun [sic]—the ancient philosophers and lawmakers who influenced the earliest laws in the Galactic Republic."

―Eloc Throno, Traveler's Guide to Batuu^[2]

Yanjon Zelmar was a member of the Four Sages of Dwartii, controversial lawgiver-philosophers who influenced the Galactic Republic's early laws. A millennium after the founding of the Republic, a bronzium statue of Zelmar stood outside the door to Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine's private office.

Biography[]

Yanjon Zelmar^[3] was one of the controversial Four Sages of Dwartii, ancient lawgivers and philosophers from the planet Dwartii in the Inner Rim.^[1] After the Old Republic was ousted from the^[4] galactic^[5] capital of Coruscant^[4] and the Sith Order reigned over the galaxy, statues were made of Zelmar and the other Sages: Sistros Nevet, Braata Danlos, and Faya Rodemos.^[3] The Republic, aided by the Jedi Order, defeated the Sith^[4] in 1032 BBY, marking what was believed to be the latter's extinction.^[5]

FayaYanjon office — Statues of Yanjon Zelmar and Faya Rodemos were kept outside the private office of Chancellor Palpatine.

As a result of their decisive victory, the Republic not only returned to power on Coruscant and made it their capital once more, but also re-formed into the Galactic Republic^[4] that same year.^[5] The Four Sages, Zelmar included, influenced the politics of the early Galactic Republic^[1] and its first laws,^[6] eventually coming to be regarded as having been controversial lawmakers with contentious views.^[7] Republic Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine—in truth the Sith Lord Darth Sidious—had large bronzium statues of both Zelmar and Faya Rodemos positioned on either side of the door to his private office on Coruscant^[8] by 19 BBY.^[9] Slightly smaller statues of the Sages were placed along the hallway to Palpatine's quarters.^[1]

In 34 ABY,^[10] within his guide book for the planet Batuu, Traveler's Guide to Batuu, historian Eloc Throno encouraged collectors to keep an eye out for^[2] a series of statuettes depicting Zelmar and the other Four Sages of Dwartii possessed by the^[1] Ithorian antiques dealer Dok-Ondar.^[2] The statuettes were put up for sale at Dok-Ondar's shop, the Den of Antiquities,^[1] the same year.^[11] In both collections, Zelmar's statue showcased the Sage as wearing a hooded robe, over which was a large^[3]^[12] headdress.^[7] Details about Zelmar's statue were mentioned in a book looking at the use of propaganda by various factions, A History of Persuasive Art in the Galaxy, that was released shortly after the Hosnian Cataclysm^[4] of 34 ABY.^[5]

Behind the scenes[]

"Gert [Stevens, concept artist] did two new statues."

―Production Designer Gavin Bocquet, on Stevens designing the Yanjon Zelmar and Faya Rodemos statues for Revenge of the Sith^[13]

Faya Yanjon statue concepts — Concept sketches of Yanjon Zelmar and Faya Rodemos' statues by Gert Stevens

Yanjon Zelmar first appeared, albeit as a statue, in the 2005 prequel trilogy film, Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith.^[12] Sketches of Zelmar's as well as Faya Rodemos' statues were drawn by Gert Stevens, a concept artist for the film.^[13] In the new Star Wars canon, Zelmar's first name was given in the 2016 reference book Star Wars: Complete Locations, in a portion detailing locations from Revenge of the Sith.^[8] Kerrie Dougherty originally authored that section for the 2005 Star Wars Legends reference book of the same name, which also marked the origin of "Yanjon" in Legends.^[14] In both editions of Complete Locations, however, Zelmar's statue is mistakenly identified as being Sistros Nevet's.^[8]^[14]

In 2019,^[15] the surname "Zelmar" was assigned to Yanjon through the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge–themed land^[3] at Disneyland Park and Disney's Hollywood Studios.^[15] At one of the land's retail locations, Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities, Zelmar's full name is labeled on a box containing small statues of Zelmar and Nevet, which can be purchased by guests.^[3] The 2020 reference book Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: Traveler's Guide to Batuu, written by Cole Horton, misspells Zelmar's first name as "Yanjun."^[2] Author Kristin Baver's 2023 reference book Star Wars 100 Objects includes some of her thoughts on Zelmar's statue. She describes the statue's headdress as regal and felt its hands were positioned in a way that could be interpreted as "seeking to locate some treasure or seize a weapon."^[7]