Why didn't Palpatine destroy the Jedi Temple?

Even though we see images of smoke from the Jedi Temple in ROTS, Palpatine does not have the building destroyed. We even see it in the background during the Coruscant Celebration during the ROTJ Special Edition.

The question is, why? The top two reasons are Palpatine's ego and his quest for knowledge (so he could get more power). Being able to see the (empty?) Jedi Temple from his palace offices would be like seeing a huge hunting trophy for Palpatine. It would be proof of his victory. Also, the temple would probably still have all sorts of information valuable to both the Sith and the Empire.

Any other theories why Palpatine wouldn't destroy the temple and turn it into a Coruscant parking lot?

 

Palpatine left it up as a threat. Anyone who dare apose the Republic (Palpatine) would face the deadly consequences. Or, coming from it in the opposite way, the Temple left standing was a reflection that even the Order was gone, but the Jedi were still fulfulling their role of guardians of the galaxy and that they were never actually gone, and would return one day.

 

He kept it up as a grim reminder of the betrayal of the Jedi Order. That betrayal can come at any time, from any avenue. Palpatine also wanted to keep it up personally to mock the Jedi. A final...well you know.

 

It makes sense that he'd keep it standing. He went through a lot to bring down the Jedi. Their empty temple is a testament to his genius, patience, and ability to manipulate the galaxy. I only wonder if he had it restored, or kept it full of blasted remains, scorchmarks and rubble.

Of course, Sidious had to have toured the facility regularly. With all the Jedi records at his disposal, I'm sure he wanted to delve into some of their more esoteric knowledge.

 

Exactly.

 

Yep. The temple was pretty much a trophy for him.

 

Also, it was a prefectly fine building as is. Despite the burning we saw in ROTS, it didnt look like the building contained much flammable material, so it probably only sustained minimal damage.

 

In the Dark Lord novel, there's a few interesting paragraphs mentioning Vader's thoughts on the Temple raid, Sidious, etc. (pages 152-154 i think). I'd have to agree with what's been said already. Leaving the Temple standing was the hugest trophy for Sidious.

 

I take it, from ROTS, that Sidious showed up at the temple as it was being "pacified" as there is security camera footage of him talking to Darth Vader. Anyone know why he showed up? Was it just a convenient plot device to let the cat out of the bag to Obi-Wan, or did he come to check on Vader's loyalty, or maybe kill a few people himself?

 

It was a convenient plot device to show Darth Sidious and Anakin together, with Sidious referring to him as Lord Vader in front of Yoda and Obi-Wan, but it seems plausible. Whatever Palpatine had scheduled that day, I'm sure it could wait. Sidious would want to look at his conquest personally.

 

he wanted to use the huge indoor swimming pool.

 

Indeed, the Jedi didn't share the pool with anyone. We now know that Palpatine wasn't really in it for revenge or taking over the galaxy so much as it was for access to the Jedi Temple pool.

 

Frankly, I wouldn't discount the idea that Palpy just wanted a big place to house all his concubines. Yes, the Emperor was a love-machine. He was well known for hitting on girls by saying, "Hey baby, want to see my Dark Side? I'll let you play with my lightsaber."

 

I imagine that he is the kind of guy who loves to mock his opponents even after their death.

I bet he is the kind of person who keeps trophy heads hanging on his walls and stuffed animals if he ever went hunting.

 

He was planning to convert it to an upscale, downtown resort/condominium project
and make a killing in the Coruscant real estate market.

 

He peered into the future and saw that it would be in the Special Edition.

 

or as someone mentioned a long long time ago on a forum far far away, he might have wanted to make it into a bordello named "JEDI NIGHTS"

 

Because it was more fun to look out the window and see the ruin of what was once the glorious home of your enemy.

 

I heard Sids was even more interested in the Temple cafeteria than he was the galactic sized pool . . .

 

Yep.
The new menu had all you can eat fried Nautolan Tentacles and roasted Iktotchi ribs on sale for just .99 credits.

 

So is it considered cannibalism if you eat a sentient species different from your own?

 

Not for a Sith.

 

Nah I like your theory. Information...destruction of information as well.

 

he also wanted to convert the Temple into a nightclub.

 

very funny stuff =D