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HISTORY OF ATHOS
Writing Credits:
Information borrowed from
WIKIPEDIA
site.
E-Mail for that site can be sent to
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In the fictional universe of the science fiction TV show Stargate Atlantis,
Athos (      )
is a planet in the Pegasus
Galaxy and former home of the Athosians.
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HISTORY
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Like other human populated worlds throughout Pegasus, it was one of the planets
culled every few hundred years by the Wraith.
There was a large ruined city on the planet and the people appear
technologically advanced to the point of pre-industrialism but after the last
"Great Attack", they abandoned city living and reverted to an
agrarian society to avoid detection by the Wraith. They still retain some
advanced technology from the city on Athos (for example, the Fire-starter).
The Athosians moved their camps to confuse invaders, and in the past, were
known to use nearby caves to hide in and document the attacks on their planet.
Some Athosians possess a very rare genetic trait that enables them to sense the
Wraith approaching before they attack.
When the Atlantis
expedition arrived searching for a viable evacuation site, the Athosian people
are initially suspicious of the strange group that had never heard of the
Wraith. Eventually, through Major John Sheppard and Teyla Emmagan, the two
peoples connected. Immediately after the Wraith attack, Major Sheppard
evacuated the encampment's survivors back to Atlantis. It is unknown if there
were any other Athosian villages on the planet.
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CULTURE & CUSTOMS
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As a people, the Athosians hold a special reverence for the Ancestors (better
known as the Ancients).
Although not fanatically worshipped, prayers are often dedicated to them. Many
Athosians believe the Atlantis expedition is trespassing on sacred ground by
setting up a base in Atlantis, as evident when Halling objects to destroying
the city should the need ever arise.
Death is an important cornerstone of the Athosian way of life. Because of
the numerous Wraith cullings, an Athosian is considered very lucky if they know
when and where they are going to die. In
respect of this knowledge, prayers and meditation are performed to allow the
dying and their close friends and family to meditate on their life. On the even
rarer occasion of a funeral,
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| Athosian |
| Species |
Human |
| Homeworld |
Athos, then Atlantis |
| Governing body |
Led by Teyla Emmagan |
| Alliances as of season 10 |
Tau'ri |
| Prior Alliances |
None |
| Key episodes |
"Rising" (first
appearance |
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the body is put in the middle of a stone ring (a representation of the
Stargate). Prayers are said and a song is performed to honor the life of a
person who did not die at the hands of the Wraith to celebrate the new journey
they undertake with the Ancestors. It is unknown what is done with the
body after the ceremony.
In the early morning, the Athosians enjoy a stout tea to brace them for the
rest of the day. They eat Tuttleroot soup, a dish that Teyla finds
difficult to make.
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INTERSTELLAR RELATIONS
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The Athosians were popular interstellar traders before they evacuated their
planet. As a society, they know a great number of Stargate addresses and use
them to trade with the people of other worlds. When the Atlantis Expedition
first arrived in the Pegasus Galaxy, the Athosians were invaluable in
introducing the humans of Earth to the native societies in Pegasus. In the
early exploratory missions Athosians accompanied teams to introduce them to
other cultures. It was believed however that an Athosian who strongly disagreed
with the Earth expedition taking control of Atlantis was leaking the
information of the team's location. Dr. Weir was forced to suspend all Gate
travel until the leak was found. It was later determined that a necklace worn
by Teyla was part of a Wraith signaling device that alerted them to a team's
presence on alien worlds. It put a great strain on the friendship between the
two peoples and the Athosians felt they had no choice but to move to the
mainland to separate themselves from the expedition and start again.
Later, Teyla introduces Major Sheppard and his team to the Genii,
apparently a race of farmers. Eventually, Teyla discovers that the Genii are
actually a developed civilization living underground and on the brink of
creating a nuclear weapon. She is shocked that people she would call friends
could keep such a large part of their life hidden for so long from the
Athosians.
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GENETIC ATTRIBUTES
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Like the rest of the native civilizations of the Pegasus Galaxy, Athosians do
not possess the ATA gene as the Ancients never interbred with cultures in
Pegasus, only the people of Earth. Several bloodlines however have the ability
to 'sense' Wraith approaching, due to their possession of Wraith DNA. Of these
people, their leader Teyla has the keenest sense currently known. It is
believed that the ability comes from a man the Athosians once offered sanctuary
to many generations ago. This man, along with several others, had been taken
during a Wraith culling and then set free again to their homeworld. The people
there believed they were blessed by the Ancestors and celebrated their return.
But when he and the others started telling the villagers of dreams they were
having about the Wraith and in one or two instances, were becoming homicidal,
the villagers exiled the 'blessed'. One man found his way to Athos where it is
believed his descendants are those that can sense the Wraith coming because of
their mixed Human/Wraith DNA.
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