Kobol (RDM): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:50, 2 July 2007

For information on the Kobol of the Original Series, see Kobol (TOS). For general information on the planet, see Kobol.

Kobol is described as the ancestral homeworld for humanity in the Sacred Scrolls. An unexplained event or environmental catastrophe causes humanity to leave Kobol and settle on the planets that form their new homeworlds known as the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. Its location is unknown until it is found by chance by the Fleet.

Kobol is a planet said to be the home of the original thirteen tribes of mankind, once shared in harmony with the Lords of Kobol. Kobol is a verdant world of seas and continents, the latter having large areas of woodland, grassland and forests. It is located in Sector 218 of the galaxy.

The seat of power of Kobol resided in the City of the Gods in the northern hemisphere, itself dominated by the Forum, Temple and Opera House (Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I), structures which were duplicated on Caprica in the city of Delphi.

Great Exodus

The Great Exodus of the Twelve Tribes from Kobol took place some 2,000 years prior to the events of the Miniseries. At that time, the Twelve Tribes departed Kobol for another star system.

It is written in the Sacred Scrolls that the Thirteenth Tribe departed Kobol some 1,600 years prior to the main exodus (Miniseries), to seek a planet known as "Earth."^[1]

The gods appear to have abandoned Kobol as well, but their time of departure is not known. It is unclear whether all the gods themselves departed Kobol with their worshippers, although the Sacred Scrolls indicate that Athena commits suicide in sorrow at the human exodus, suggesting that one or more gods or humans remained to record the death before entombing Athena and leaving themselves.

Religious Texts

During the time humans lived on Kobol, many texts were written, some of which have survived through time, and are regarded by some as religious artifacts, and by others the documenting of myths and legends. These texts have apparently been collected into a tome known as the Sacred Scrolls.

Chief among these writings include the Book of Pythia who, some 1,600 years prior to the Great Exodus, foretold another exodus featuring a "caravan of the heavens" lead by someone dying of a "wasting disease" (The Hand of God). This exodus would lead humanity to a new home, although the leader would die before he/she could enter the new home.

Some of the writings of Pythia have apparently come true: President Laura Roslin, the civil leader of the Colonial fleet is dying of cancer at the presumed fulfillment of the prophecy (Home, Part II). Further, Roslin has several visions, including one of 12 snakes (The Hand of God), a vision specifically foretold by Pythia.

According to an virtual image of Number Six that appears to Gaius Baltar, the Cylons have very different beliefs about Kobol, including that human sacrifice was practiced there, and that the souls of all who die on Kobol are forever lost ("Valley of Darkness", "Fragged"). With the nature of "virtual Six" unclear, this information may be a falsehood.

Rediscovering Kobol

Kobol is re-discovered, apparently by chance when Galactica dispatches her Raptors to locate planets which may provide materials needed to re-supply the Fleet. However, Cylon forces are already present in the system (Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I).

Following the discovery (as predicted by the humanoid Cylon Leoben Conoy) as well as her own prescient visions, Roslin becomes convinced that Kobol will lead the fleet to Earth, providing the Tomb of Athena can be found. To do this, priest Elosha notes that the Arrow of Apollo must be retrieved from the Delphi Museum of the Colonies on Caprica.

Against Commander Adama's military orders, Roslin begins a quest to retrieve the Arrow, leading to her arrest (Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II). She later escapes and leads a third of the Fleet to Kobol (with the retrieved Arrow) to begin the search for the Tomb (Home, Part I)

A scouting team sent to Kobol is ambushed by Cylon forces. The survivors manage to escape further Cylon assault after a SAR mission (Fragged).

Commander Adama later joins Roslin's expedition and soon find the Tomb of Athena. They are the first people to see the inside of the Tomb in centuries, and use the Arrow to activate a holographic map display which indicated the general direction of Earth (Home, Part II).

Notes

Much of the scenic, expansive landscapes of Kobol were filmed at Widgeon Slough, the largest freshwater marsh in the the Pinecone Burke Provincial Park, British Columbia, Port Coquitlam (Source in part: The Official Companion).
In the original Miniseries script, the Twelve Colonies actually resided on Kobol. The final script returned Kobol to its status as birthplace of mankind, with humanity having left to other habitable worlds to match the premise of the Original Series.

References

↑ Galen Tyrol's report on the age of the Temple of Five at aroud 4,000 years old (The Eye of Jupiter) is generally accurate. The Thirteenth Tribe allegedly left approximately 4,000 years prior to the events of the Miniseries. The Twelve Tribes (which form the Colonies) left much later, at 2,000 years prior to the Miniseries.

[1] Galen Tyrol's report on the age of the Temple of Five at aroud 4,000 years old (The Eye of Jupiter) is generally accurate. The Thirteenth Tribe allegedly left approximately 4,000 years prior to the events of the Miniseries. The Twelve Tribes (which form the Colonies) left much later, at 2,000 years prior to the Miniseries.

[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-: ''For information on the Kobol of the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]], see [[Kobol (TOS)]].''
+: ''For information on the Kobol of the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]], see [[Kobol (TOS)]]. For general information on the planet, see [[Kobol]].''
+[[image:Home_pt1-Kobol.jpg|thumb|right|'''Kobol''' as seen from space in the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]].]]
-[[image:Home_pt1-Kobol.jpg|thumb|right|'''Kobol''' as seen from space.]]
 [[Image:City of the Gods.jpg|left|thumb|An illustration from the [[Sacred Scrolls]] of the City of the Gods ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]])]]
-'''Kobol''' is described as the ancestral homeworld of humanity in the [[Sacred Scrolls]]. Its inhabitants are said to have lived in harmony with the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies#The Lords of Kobol|Lords of Kobol]].
+'''Kobol''' is described as the ancestral homeworld for humanity in the [[Sacred Scrolls]]. An unexplained event or environmental catastrophe causes humanity to leave Kobol and settle on the planets that form their new homeworlds known as the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies of Kobol]]. Its location is unknown until it is found by chance by the Fleet.
-An unexplained event or environmental catastrophe caused humanity to leave Kobol and settle on the planets that form their new homeworlds known as the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies of Kobol]]. Its location is unknown until it is found by chance by the Fleet. The planet is a verdant world of seas and continents, the latter having large areas of woodland, grassland and forests. If the exodus was caused by environmental changes, the planet seems to have recovered in the few thousand years since. Colonial star charts place it in [[Sector 218]] of the galaxy.
+Kobol is a planet said to be the home of the original thirteen tribes of mankind, once shared in harmony with the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies#The Lords of Kobol|Lords of Kobol]]. Kobol is a verdant world of seas and continents, the latter having large areas of woodland, grassland and forests. It is located in [[Sector 218]] of the galaxy.
-The seat of power of Kobol resided in the [[City of the Gods]] in the northern hemisphere, itself dominated by the [[Forum]], [[Temple]] and [[Opera House]] ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]), structures which were duplicated on [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] in the city of [[Delphi]].
+The seat of power of Kobol resided in the [[City of the Gods]] in the northern hemisphere, itself dominated by the [[Forum]], [[Temple]] and [[Opera House]] ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]), structures which were duplicated on [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]] in the city of [[Delphi]].
 <div style="clear:both;"></div>
 ==Great Exodus==
 The Great Exodus of the Twelve Tribes from Kobol took place some 2,000 years prior to the events of the [[Miniseries]]. At that time, the Twelve Tribes [[Galleon Meadow|departed Kobol]] for another star system.
-It is written in the Sacred Scroll] that the [[Thirteenth Tribe (RDM)|Thirteenth Tribe]] departed Kobol some 1,600 years prior to the main exodus ([[Miniseries]]), to seek a planet known as [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]] <ref>[[Galen Tyrol]]'s report on the age of the [[Temple of Five]] at aroud 4,000 years old ([[The Eye of Jupiter]]) is generally accurate. The Thirteenth Tribe allegedly left approximately 4,000 years prior to the events of the [[Miniseries]]. The Twelve Tribes (which form the Colonies) left much later, at 2,000 years prior to the Miniseries.</ref>.
+It is written in the [[Sacred Scrolls]] that the [[Thirteenth Tribe (RDM)|Thirteenth Tribe]] departed Kobol some 1,600 years prior to the main exodus ([[Miniseries]]), to seek a planet known as "[[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]."<ref>[[Galen Tyrol]]'s report on the age of the [[Temple of Five]] at aroud 4,000 years old ([[The Eye of Jupiter]]) is generally accurate. The Thirteenth Tribe allegedly left approximately 4,000 years prior to the events of the [[Miniseries]]. The Twelve Tribes (which form the Colonies) left much later, at 2,000 years prior to the Miniseries.</ref>
-The gods appear to have abandoned Kobol as well, but their time of departure is unknown, if that part of the story can be taken literally.
-It is unclear whether all the gods themselves departed Kobol at this time, although the Sacred Scrolls indicate that [[Athena, Lord of Kobol|Athena]] committed suicide in sorrow at the human exodus, suggesting that one or more gods or humans remained to record the death before [[Tomb of Athena|entombing Athena]] and leaving themselves.
+The gods appear to have abandoned Kobol as well, but their time of departure is not known. It is unclear whether all the gods themselves departed Kobol with their worshippers, although the [[Sacred Scrolls]] indicate that [[Athena, Lord of Kobol|Athena]] commits suicide in sorrow at the human exodus, suggesting that one or more gods or humans remained to record the death before [[Tomb of Athena|entombing Athena]] and leaving themselves.
 ==Religious Texts==
-During the time humans lived on Kobol, many texts were written, some of which have survived through time, and are regarded by some as religious artifacts, and by others the documenting of myths and legends. These texts have been collected into a tome known as the [[Sacred Scrolls]].
+During the time humans lived on Kobol, many texts were written, some of which have survived through time, and are regarded by some as religious artifacts, and by others the documenting of myths and legends. These texts have apparently been collected into a tome known as the [[Sacred Scrolls]].
 Chief among these writings include the Book of [[Pythia]] who, some 1,600 years prior to the Great Exodus, foretold another exodus featuring a "caravan of the heavens" lead by someone dying of a "wasting disease" ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]). This exodus would lead humanity to a new home, although the leader would die before he/she could enter the new home.
@@ Line 27: / Line 22: @@
 Some of the writings of Pythia have apparently come true: President [[Laura Roslin]], the civil leader of the Colonial fleet is dying of cancer at the presumed fulfillment of the prophecy ([[Home, Part II]]). Further, Roslin has several [[Chamalla|visions]], including one of 12 snakes ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]), a vision specifically foretold by Pythia.
-According to an [[Cylon-Related Hallucinations|virtual image of Number Six]] that appears to [[Gaius Baltar]], the Cylons have very different beliefs about Kobol, including that human sacrifice was practiced there, and that the souls of all who die on Kobol are forever lost ("[[Valley of Darkness]]", "[[Fragged]]"). Since some feel this "virtual Six" appears to be some sort of hallucination, this belief may be a falsehood.
+According to an [[Virtual beings|virtual image of Number Six]] that appears to [[Gaius Baltar]], the Cylons have very different beliefs about Kobol, including that human sacrifice was practiced there, and that the souls of all who die on Kobol are forever lost ("[[Valley of Darkness]]", "[[Fragged]]"). With the nature of "virtual Six" unclear, this information may be a falsehood.
 ==Rediscovering Kobol==
-Kobol is re-discovered, apparently by chance when ''[[Galactica]]'' dispatches Raptors to locate planets which may provide materials needed to re-supply the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]. However, Cylon forces are already present in the system ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]).
+Kobol is re-discovered, apparently by chance when ''[[Galactica]]'' dispatches her [[Raptor]]s to locate planets which may provide materials needed to re-supply the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]. However, Cylon forces are already present in the system ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]).
-Following the discovery (as predicted by the [[humanoid Cylon]] [[Leoben Conoy]]), Roslin becomes convinced that Kobol will lead the Fleet to Earth, providing the [[Tomb of Athena]] can be accessed. To do this, the [[Arrow of Apollo]] must be retrieved from the [[Delphi Museum of the Colonies]] on Caprica.
+Following the discovery (as predicted by the [[humanoid Cylon]] [[Leoben Conoy]]) as well as her own [[Chamalla|prescient visions]], Roslin becomes convinced that Kobol will lead the fleet to Earth, providing the [[Tomb of Athena]] can be found. To do this, priest [[Elosha]] notes that the [[Arrow of Apollo]] must be retrieved from the [[Delphi Museum of the Colonies]] on [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]].
-However, before the surface of Kobol can be reached safely (and the crew of a crashed Raptor rescued), a Cylon force lead by a [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] must be eliminated. Commander [[William Adama|Adama]] plans to use the captured [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Cylon Raider]] to this end, but before any plan can be put into action, Lt. [[Kara Thrace]], having been persuaded by Roslin, uses the Raider to go to Caprica in an attempt to recover the Arrow ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]). Commander Adama eventually uses a Raptor armed with a nuclear warhead to destroy the orbiting basestar.
+Against Commander [[William Adama|Adama's]] military orders, Roslin begins a quest to retrieve the Arrow, leading to her arrest ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]). She [[Resistance|later escapes]] and leads a third of the Fleet to Kobol (with the [[The Farm|retrieved Arrow]]) to begin the search for the Tomb ([[Home, Part I]])
-President Roslin plays her role as "the Leader" sent by the Gods, and convinces a third of the Fleet to return to Kobol with her ([[The Farm]]).  With the Arrow of Apollo retrieved, Roslin descends to the surface with a small team, including [[Lee Adama]], Starbuck, [[Helo]], and [[Tom Zarek]].  The [[Sharon Agathon|copy of Sharon Valerii]], who accompanied Helo on Caprica, claims to know how to help Roslin reach the Tomb of Athena, and is brought along as guide.  Along the way on the surface, Roslin's team fights with additional Centurions, resulting in the death of priestess [[Elosha]], Roslin's personal religious advisor ([[Home, Part I]]).
+A scouting team sent to Kobol is ambushed by Cylon forces. The survivors manage to escape further Cylon assault after a [[SAR]] mission ([[Fragged]]).
-Commander Adama (who locates Roslin's group on the surface) joins her and the rest of the team shortly after Elosha's death. The team soon finds the Tomb of Athena.  They are the first people to see the inside of the Tomb in centuries, and use the Arrow to activate a holographic map display which indicated the general direction of [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]] ([[Home, Part II]]).
+Commander Adama later joins Roslin's expedition and soon find the Tomb of Athena.  They are the first people to see the inside of the Tomb in centuries, and use the Arrow to activate a holographic map display which indicated the general direction of [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]] ([[Home, Part II]]).
 ==Notes==