The word temple has two distinct meanings:

1. A building dedicated to the worship of a god or gods. Temples have been central to religious life for thousands of years across many cultures. The ancient Greeks built magnificent temples to honor Zeus, Athena, and other gods. Buddhist temples in Asia house sacred statues and serve as places for meditation and prayer. Hindu temples in India feature intricate carvings and serve as homes for deities. The Jewish Temple in ancient Jerusalem was the holiest site in Judaism until it was destroyed nearly 2,000 years ago. Today, when people visit temples, they might pray, make offerings, study religious texts, or simply sit quietly in a sacred space.
2. The flat area on either side of your forehead, between your eye and your ear. If you press gently on your temple, you can sometimes feel your pulse beating there because blood vessels run close to the surface. The temples are a vulnerable part of the skull, which is why an injury to the temple can be dangerous. When someone has a headache, they might rub their temples to try to relieve the pain.