Tauron

Colors and symbol of Tauron

Tauron (ancient name Taurus) is a planet in the star system Cyrannus and one of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. Its capital is Hypatia.

Originally Tauron is one of the poorer Colonial worlds and the center of a civil war nearly a century before the Fall (Caprica pilot). After the War, Tauron is known to be a somewhat troublesome colony within the federal system of the Colonies (Hero). Yet by then this world is counted among the wealthier of the twelve worlds (Dirty Hands).

Geography and Astronomy

Tauron's moon in the evening sky.

Tauron is a barren, arid planet that, for religious reasons, lacks any kind of flowers. However, within the Colonies it is still known as an agricultural world (Caprica pilot).

Tauron shares its orbit with another world. This close, ringed astronomical body can even be seen as a large celestial object on the Tauron sky (Know Thy Enemy - see notes).

History

An aerial view of Tauron City.

Tauron, under attack by Cylon forces.

Over 800 years prior to the Fall of the Colonies, Tauron was conquered by rival colonies Virgon and Leonis. After a long, hard struggle, the people of Tauron liberated themselves, and this is celebrated as the "Our Day" holiday.

In 93 BCH, the Tauron Civil War occurred here, causing the displacement of many of its people to Caprica.

For some time before the First Cylon War, the crime syndicate Ha'la'tha has enormous influence over the planet, which even extends to other colonies, such as Caprica.

Around 58 BCH a meta-cognitive processor is invented on Tauron by the Vergis Corporation, later to be stolen by Graystone Industries and used on the very first Cylon prototype (Caprica pilot).

At the end of the Cylon War, Tauron is under attack from Cylon basestars and ground forces, causing many civilian causalities in areas such as the city of Hypatia (Razor, extended Edition).

After the War, Tauron obtains the reputation for being a troublesome colony within the federal system of the Colonies, often disobeying directives decided by the colonies and pushing their luck with the admiralty (Hero). Yet this world is counted among the wealthier of the twelve worlds (Dirty Hands). Four years before the Fall this reputation is even used as a cover-up for a top-secret mission of the battlestar Valkyrie (Hero).

After the Fall

Like its sister worlds, Tauron is heavily devastated during the Cylon attack and its population killed by nuclear bombardment. The ultimate fate of the planet is unknown.

Perah Enyeto is the colony's representative on the first Quorum of Twelve within the refugitive Fleet (Colonial Day). Enyeto is later replaced by another Quorum member, before the Quorum is dissolved after Tom Zarek's massacre (Blood on the Scales, Islanded in a Stream of Stars).

Culture

A Tauron funeral on Caprica.

Taurons traditionally speak a different language than Capricans (Caprica pilot).

As a culture, Taurons are noted to be a stoic people. Many Taurons are known for their elaborate use of tattoos, noting their various accomplishments and failures, roles in society, and other social attributes — in essence, each tattoo has its own story and significance. Before the First Cylon War Taurons are looked upon as "dirt eaters" and are treated as second-class citizens on Caprica.

Tauron children are known to play with bones from chicken's feet, as one would play with a rubber ball and metal jacks. Further, a Tauron male is considered a man at thirteen years of age (Gravedancing).

When in mourning, they wear black gloves as a possible way to distance themselves from the world (Caprica pilot). Tauron services include family gatherings, songs, tattoos and aim at the people left behind to let their loved ones go (There Is Another Sky). It is also traditional for the deaths of family members to be avenged - "blood for blood" (Caprica pilot). This may be due to the Tauron belief that no one truly dies until their death is avenged, as their soul is believed to be caught in between life and death (Gravedancing).

Other

Notable Natives and Residents

Pre-First Cylon War

• William Adama
• Joseph and Sam Adama
• Shannon Adama and her mother Ruth
• Saundra Cain and her husband
• Lucy Cain
• The Guatrau, leader of the Ha'la'tha
• Tomas Vergis

Post-First Cylon War

• Helena Cain

Pyramid Teams

• Olympia Stallions
• Tauron Bulls

Economics

• Vergis Corporation

Locations

• Hypatia, Tauron's capital
• Olympia, a wealthy suburb of Hypatia
• Tauron City (also known as Minos)

Notes

• The Tauron language is actually Ancient Greek. Additionally, Tauron funeral services resemble ancient Greek traditions.
• Tauron is the third of the twelve Colonial worlds shown in the Re-imagined Series, but only through the extended DVD version of "Razor". The extended version scene shows a brief scene on the surface with the terrified Cain family, but there is little detail. Details of this world are later expanded into further depth in Caprica.
• According to Serge's Twitter Account Tauron only has a moon. However, the object's appearance in "Know Thy Enemy" is relatively large and resembles an LA Times decription of Scorpia.
• Tauron City was originally believed to be Tauron's capital (analogical to Caprica City). Later, Serge's Twitter account stated the capital to be Hypatia.