8. The Temple of Lahkesis

The Divine Pools

At the end of the long chain, a section of the wall will start to crumble and
form a climbable portion. Climb over to the right and attack the one section
of the wall that refuses to fall then move over a little more and pull yourself
up to the floor above. Move around the walkway and save your game.

Walk into the waterfall area and Kratos will be attacked by a new enemy. These
Fire Nymphs will shoot fireballs while flying around and will actually explode
while dying if you happen to kill them with physical attacks. Grab a Fire
Nymph out of the air with the grab button and Kratos will tear off a wing from
the creature and throw it at the currently targeted enemy on the screen. This
is an instant kill for the grabbed Nymph and causes some good damage to the
others.

If you look toward the waterfall directly ahead, you will notice a cracked door
behind the waterfall. Walk over to the area below the door and jump then hit
it to destroy it and reveal a hidden --RED CHEST--. Jump up the platforms on
the right side and make your way to the torch at the top. Leap across to the
right platform and walk to the end to find another --RED CHEST-- hidden by the
camera. Hop back over to the left platform with the torch then jump to the
side with the broken railing across from the current ledge.

The Ruined Wall

Move around the side of the walkway and jump on the side of the broken rough
wall. Climb to the left while on the wall and jump across to the next section
of wall then drop to the floor on the left side. Walk around the side to find
a --RED CHEST-- and an --UNMARKED CHEST-- next to a group of pillars. There is
another --UNMARKED CHEST-- on the far left side that contains a ++GORGON
EYE (10/?++.

Move back to the right while on the wall and jump back across then climb
downward (slide) to the rock floor below. Run over to the right side after
getting off the wall to find another climbable wall. Follow this wall to the
right, then down and then to the left. Transition to the ceiling then move
further to the cracked wall on the left side. Break the crack wall by hitting
it to reveal another --UNARKED CHEST--. Climb over to the chest and open it to
collect a ++PHOENIX FEATHER (6/?)++. This should extend your magic gauge if
you've been collecting them all up to this point.

Climb all the way back to the rock platform above then walk around the left
side. A few Fire Nymphs will attack so get your pitching arm ready. Move
around the far left side of the doors to see a --RED CHEST--. Walk up to the
doors and kick them with R1 to get inside of the building.

Statue Room

Run toward the path leading to the big statue of Lahkesis. The pressure switch
near the entrance will make the statue lower both of its arms, so we'll have to
get something to set on it, right? Not exactly. Jump off either side of the
bridge leading up to the statue. Run to the middle and move toward the camera
angle to find --2 UNMARKED CHESTS--. The left chest contains a ++GORGON
EYE (11/?)++ and the right chest contains a ++PHOENIX FEATHER (7/?)++.

The pressure switch will raise pillars on both side that lead back up to the
bridge below, but yet again there is nothing to place on it. The switch in the
back left portion of the bottom floor is used to lower the gate in the back but
some unfortunate soul got impaled under the gate so it won't lower. Walk over
to the large pot in the middle of fountain that is across from the two hidden
chests and grab the handle on the back of it then pull it all the way back to
reveal a hidden water hole below the pot. Jump into the water and swim through
the tunnel. Use R1 to gain a burst of speed in order to break the already
cracked rock seal with the face.

Surface on the other side then hop out to the room in the back of the gate.
Walk over to the statue and press R1 to make Kratos gently take the **AMULET OF
THE FATES** from the statue's hand. This amulet will allow the bearer to slow
time at an incredible rate when held up toward a flashing green stone such as
the one on the Fate Statue that held it. Hold L1 and press R1 to make Kratos
hold the amulet toward the statue and freeze time. Keep in mind that this will
only work while in the presence of a flashing green stone. Jump back into the
water and swim through the tunnel back to the other side. Gaia will mention
the use of the Amulet of the Fates upon surfacing on the other side.

Stand on the pressure switch behind the pot that you moved earlier to make the
pillars along the side rise up. Use the Amulet of the Fates to slow down time
then jump to the top of the second pillar on the right side. Jump and hit the
top portion of the seemingly unbreakable insignia on the right wall next to the
second pillar to break it and reveal an extremely well hidden --UNMARKED
CHEST-- containing a ++GORGON EYE (12/?)++. Make your way back to the pressure
switch and slow time again while standing on it then jump up the pillars and
climb back up to bridge once again. Run back over to the other pressure switch
near the entrance and stand on it so that the statue lowers both of its hands.
Use the Amulet of the Fates once again to slow time then quickly run over to
the statue's hands and leap on top of its hands. When time resumes, the statue
will carry Kratos up to its head and a cutscene will activate.

Walk up to the statue head and attack it to make it fall and shatter the glass
window behind it. Before moving through the window, fall to the walkway behind
the statue and open the --RED CHEST-- on the statue's right side and the
--UNMARKED CHEST-- on the statue's left side containing a ++PHOENIX
FEATHER (8/?). Just in case you fall back off the statue once the head is
destroyed, keep in mind that you can climb back up its arms. Jump out the
glass window that the statue head destroyed and leap off the platform outside
to the floor below.

Wraiths will surface from the ground as the statue head begins to threaten
Kratos. Keep in mind that you can use the Amulet of the Fates during this
battle to slow time thanks to the flashing green stone on the statue's
forehead. These Wraiths can be harsh when fought in groups. Make sure that
you watch for their ground attack where they move under the ground and shoot
back up with an uppercut when near Kratos (it's a two hit attack). Be sure to
guard or roll whenever they are about to uppercut then attack them. Grabs work
very well for Wraiths since a grab will send them up into the air allowing you
to combo them or grab them out of the air while on the ground or jump into the
air with them and grab them in the air (backbreaker). Dark Nymphs will join
the battle eventually. These can be grabbed and killed with one hit just like
the Fire Nymphs. They have a very nasty webbing attack that will wrap Kratos
in webs and make him vulnerable to enemy attacks. Be sure to shake the left
analog from left to right to break free.

Fun Fact 1: The statue head can be destroyed early in the battle and the entire
battle mentioned above can be skipped by exiting the area.

Fun Fact 2: Notice the lip movement for the statue's "You cannot change your
destiny, mortal!" phrase. The lip movement is out of synch toward the end of
the phrase every other time the phrase is spoken.

Destiny's Atrium

Once the enemies are defeated, destroy the statue head by attacking it then run
across the bridge up ahead. A cutscene will show the forest path below as it
is blocked off by a barrier from the large statue head's eyes. Open the
--GREEN CHEST-- in view if needed. Walk over to the right side to find an
--UNMARKED CHEST-- containing a ++GORGON EYE (13/?) along with plenty of
breakable vases. Move to the left side and open the --RED CHEST-- that is
surrounded by more breakable vases.

Slide down one of the side ladders or jump below. Upon walking toward the
middle, the doorways will seal off and a Cyclops along with several Boars will
attack. The Boars can be gutted with a single grab and keep in mind that this
grab will cause them to release yellow orbs for your Rage of the Titans meter.
The Cyclops will use the Boars to his advantage and actually grab one, bite its
head off, and toss it at you.

Stay away from the Cyclops by all means since all of his attacks are
unblockable and he will possibly grab Kratos from close range. Roll to the
side whenever the Cyclops is about to hit you and whenever he tosses a Boar.
Use Rage of the Titans and Typhon's Bane and keep all attacks focused on the
Cyclops. The Plume of Prometheus combo ([], [], /\) will stagger the Cyclops,
but it doesn't always work so don't put full faith into it as he continues to
get closer. Once the icon appears above him keep in mind that the first O
button attack will not kill him. Each Cyclops requires two O button attacks,
but thankfully they will release green orbs with each O button attack. Two
more Cyclops will appear after the first one is defeated. Make sure to roll
often and cancel an attack if one gets too close.

Use the --REPLENISHER CHEST-- to the left side after the battle if needed. The
left path with the fire-spitting face will not be of any use at the moment
since you'll need a special item found later in the game in order to go that
way. Climb either of the ladders closest to the giant statue head.

Wreck all the vases on the right side at the top of the walkway for some extra
orbs. Pull the statue with the shield out of the alcove against the side wall.
The walkway that you just stepped off of is raised a bit higher compared to
this lower area with the statue so you can't push the statue up on the walkway.
Pull the switch directly across from the statue to make the platform up ahead
lower. Push the statue onto that platform then pull the switch again to raise
the platform. Jump and climb up on top of the platform then get behind the
statue, grab it (R1), then kick it off the platform (charge X) so that it flies
up onto the walkway. Push the statue into the small square indention in front
of the large statue head's left eye to reflect the beam back at the eye.

Walk over to the left side and break the vases then find the other statue on
that side. There is also a --BLUE CHEST-- on this side if you need some magic.
Pull the statue out of the alcove and push it over to the other square in front
of the statue's right eye to reflect the other beam back.

A cutscene will play in which the barrier is lowered that leads to the forest.
Jump down and open the --GREEN CHEST-- in front of the forest path and save
your game at the save point before journeying down the path ahead.