Avatar:Council of Elders

 

<infobox theme-source="nation"> <image source="image" /> <title source="name"><default>Council of Elders</default></title> <group> <header>General information</header> <label>Leader(s)</label> <label>Notable members</label> <label>Founder(s)</label> <label>Headquarters</label> <label>Affiliation</label> <label>Purpose</label> <label>Engagements</label> <label>Status</label> </group> <group> <header>Chronological information</header> <label>First appearance</label> <label>Last appearance</label> </group> <header>Image gallery (4)</header> </infobox> The Council of Elders was a group consisting of the theocratic leaders of the Air Nomads. Each of the air temples had its own council of Head Abbots, head monks or head nuns, their members being both the political and the religious authorities.

The Northern and Southern councils were composed of head monks, and the Eastern and Western councils were composed of head sisters, in accordance with the primary gender residing in each respective temple. The Southern Air Temple had five head monks.

Overview

Members of the elder councils were master airbenders, with all having earned their tattoos and more before serving their people. Elders had the political authority to instate rules that could affect the policy of the temple where they served, and could determine who was appropriate to speak for the temples on the international stage. Members of the Council of Elders were the only ones allowed to enter the air sanctuary in each air temple other than the Avatar. They were also the ones responsible for identifying the Avatar when they were born into the Air Nomads. Although the elders were often guided by a compassion and altruism, they could also be particularly set in their ways when it came to tradition.

Notable members

Northern Council

• Abbot Sonam
• Monk Namthöse
• Monk Samten

Southern Council

• Abbot Rabten
• Monk Youdron
• Monk Gyatso
• Monk Pasang
• Monk Tashi

Eastern Council

• Sister Iio

Western Council

• Abbess Dagmola

Trivia

• Jetsun was honored as a temple elder after her death, though she is not known to have served on the council, and died at a young age.

See also

• Air Nomads
• Council of Five
• Politics in the World of Avatar
• Society in the World of Avatar