Cycle of Time

The Cycle of Time, or the Cycle, is a pattern of events which has repeated itself several times. Each iteration of the cycle starts when a civilization creates intelligent biological or mechanical beings. These being rebel against their masters, resulting in a devastating war which typically results in the loss of technology. In at least some iterations of the cycle, otherworldly beings and prophetic visions guide a few individuals to ensure that a divine plan is carried out. The survivors on one or both sides of the conflict engage in a mass exodus, and eventually repeat the cycle.

• The war between the Twelve Tribes the the Thirteenth Tribe's "Cylons" on Kobol.
• The war between the Thirteenth Tribe and their "Centurions" on the original Earth.
• The Cylon War, in which the Cylon Centurions rebelled against the humans of the Twelve Colonies. Before the war, five members of the tribe were warned, allowing them to escape and reach the Twelve Colonies in time to end the Cylon War.
• The Fall of the Twelve Colonies, in which the modern Humanoid Cylons attacked the humans of the Twelve Colonies. After the fall, visions guided a number of humans and Cylons in order to guide the Colonials and the rebel Cylons to the second Earth and protect Hera Agathon, allowing her to become the Mitichondrial Eve of later generations of humanity.

The Ones' coup against the Final Five could also be interpreted as an iteration of the Cycle. Additionally, the fact that the Sacred Scrolls mention the Cycle of Time implies that the war on Kobol was not the first iteration of the Cycle, although it is also possible that it was the first and Pythia foresaw later iterations of the cycle.