Ancient (Stargate)
Template:Stargate race The Ancients, also known as the Alterans and Lanteans, sometimes calling themselves Anqueetas in their language, are a human race in the fictional Stargate universe. They are the most advanced race known to have existed, having evolved millions of years prior to the present day and reaching their level of technology long before humanity evolved on Earth. They are most known for being the builders of the Stargates, the basis of the franchise.
The Ancients have become the most important race in both Stargate series. They are an offshoot of the Ori, the main antagonists in Stargate SG-1 since the show's ninth season, and have played a large role in the series' many story arcs. In Stargate Atlantis, the Ancients built Atlantis, the show's main setting, and are responsible for the emergence of the show's two main villain races: the Wraith and the Asurans.
History
The Alterans and the Ori
Millions of years ago, the (presumably) first evolution of mankind lived in a distant galaxy along the evolutionary path to ascension. At the time, the Ori and the Alterans were not distinguished from each other, and lived in one society. However, a philosophical division emerged. The Ori grew more and more fervent in their religious belief, while the Alterans (from altera, Latin: the other(s)), adopted a more scientific/rational outlook. Ultimately their viewpoints diverged so much that the two groups split apart and began to oppose each other. Instead of going to war, the Alterans decided to leave their galaxy, and began searching for a new home.[1]
After much time, believed by Daniel Jackson to be thousands of years, the Alterans discovered the Milky Way, where they eventually built an impressive empire. They apparently also settled on Earth, which they called Terra. The Ancients built Astria Porta (Stargates) across many planets, most of which were probably colonized by the race. [2] The exact role of Earth in their empire remains unknown. However, as the planet's original Stargate, eventually discovered by SG-1 in Antarctica, was the oldest gate ever encountered, Earth most likely was one of their more important worlds. [3] It was also once the location of one of the Ancient City Ship Atlantis, before it moved to the Pegasus Galaxy. [4] Other important planets they have colonized were Proclarush Taonas [5], Dakara [6] and Valos Cor. [7]
Although exiled to another galaxy, the Alterans still remained in contact with their distant cousins, the Ori, evidenced by the discovery of Long-range communication devices in both the Milky Way and the Ori home galaxy.[8] Still, the two factions remained bitter enemies. Eventually, the Alterans were afflicted with a terrible plague that wiped out most of their civilization.[9] It would later be discovered that what was known of this plague is very similar to the disease used by Ori Priors against non-believers, which had led Daniel Jackson to speculate that the pre-Ascended Ori might have been responsible for this plague.[10]
Some Ancients apparently attempted to travel back through time to escape the plague, with not much success. It has been stated that the Ancients who remained in the Milky Way galaxy either ascended or died out. [9] However, according to Anubis, the Ancients had attempted to recreate life after the plague in the Milky Way using the Dakara Superweapon. [11] The exact meaning of this statement remains unknown.
Pegasus Galaxy
Several million years ago, several Ancients departed Earth in their city-sized spaceship, Atlantis which at that time was situated on Earth on the continent Antarctica. The exact reason for their depature is unknown, although Daniel Jackson has speculated that they might have left to escape the plague that was devastating their civilization of the time. [4] One known Alteran, later named Ayiana by the researchers who discovered her perfectly preserved in Antarctica, was left behind. The fact that Ayiana was infected with the Ancient plague when she was defrosted would seem to confirm Jackson's speculations. [3]
After arriving in the Pegasus Galaxy, the Alterans settled on a planet they named Lantea, calling themselves Lanteans from that time on. Finding Pegasus devoid of sentient life, the Lanteans seeded humans and Stargates across their new home galaxy, also protecting and inhabiting them. [4] However, at some point they encountered a leech-like organism called the Iratus bug, which possessed immense healing and immunological capabilities. Somehow this organism absorbed genetic information from humans and eventually evolved into the vampire-like Wraith. [12] Although it remains unknown exactly how this evolution occured, the Ancients have confirmed that they were responsible for the species' emergence. [13]
As the Ancients had never encountered another species with technology that could match their own, they were caught off guard. The Lanteans sent a delegation protected by their most powerful warships to negotiate with the Wraith, without much success. The Lanteans and Wraith went to war, and despite of the Ancients' technological superiority, the Wraith overwhelmed the Lanteans with their sheer numbers. During their war which lasted for centuries, the Wraith eventually conquered every planet in the Pegasus Galaxy until only Atlantis, the capital of their empire, remained protected by its powerful city shield.
The Lanteans were able to hold the Wraith back with their superior weapons and submerged the city in the planet's ocean to protect it from their enemy's attacks. But no matter how many battles they won, the Lanteans were unable to win the war. [4] They started to take more desperate experiments, such as Project Arcturus, a failed attempt to draw Zero Point Energy from our own universe, instead of an artificial one like in Zero Point Modules. [14] They also developed a race known as the Asurans, nanites designed to fight the Wraith on a cellular level. However, their creation took human form, was deemed flawed, and subsequently exterminated by the Ancients. [15]
Eventually, the Ancients realized that the war was lost, and decided to return to Earth, the planet that had been home to them for millions of years. They evacuated the city via the Stargate, hoping it would eventually by rediscovered by their descendants. [16] The remaining Ancients in the Pegasus Galaxy returned to Earth by ship, or chose to stay behind and ascend. Some of them even created a time-dilation field powered by a ZPM to speed up their path to ascension. [17] Others had all ready ascended on Atlantis by using a specific type of DNA Resequencer. [18]
Return to the Milky Way
After the Lantean's return to Earth, they found only a harsh environment and primitive inhabitants. It was believed that there was no hope of rebuilding their former civilization. So they spread out to distant lands and helped to populate them. Others would depart the planet through the Stargate located in Antarctica, possibly seeking to live out their days on distant worlds within the Milky Way. The remainder chose isolation in which to meditate and seek enlightenment. This would eventually lead to a spiritual ascension for some. [7]
Those Ancients who stayed on Earth and interbred with humans passed on the Ancient Technology Activation gene [4] as well as giving civilization to the people. [7] They would also lay the foundation for the Latin language. Many Roman myths were also influenced by the Ancients, such as the myth that the "Ancient ones ascended to the Heavens". According to mythology, the Romans learned how to build roads from gods known as "The Ancient Ones". [19]
The story of Atlantis and the Lanteans' plight may have had some influence on Plato's Timaeus and Critias. [4] They tell of events which transpired some 9,000 years before his time and were written around 360 BC. Atlantis is mentioned only briefly in Timaeus but is described in great detail in Critias as a city full of great wonders and beauty. The Atlantians observed their laws, and spread generousity and peace for many generations. However, its inhabitants would later become greedy, villainous and power hungry and sought to control or wipe out any civilization who oppossed them. Rather than having been defeated by a vampire-like alien race, according to Plato's tale, the Atlantians were brought down at the hands of ancient Athenians. As a final punishment the gods destroyed Atlantis.
The Arthurian Legends were also shown to be influenced by the Ancients, in particular the Ancient Myrddin/Merlin, who appeared to have ascended after returning from Atlantis, but to have de-ascended himself in order to create an Anti-Ori weapon. Merlin became known as King Arthur's wizard in mythology, and the Anti-Ori weapon became known as the Sangraal or Holy Grail. He also entrusted his secrets to a small group of nobles which consisted of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. [20]
Some of the Ancients, presumably those who left Earth, set up the Alliance of Four Great Races including themselves, the Nox, the Furlings and the Asgard. Together, they created a "true" universal language. According to writings discovered on Heliopolis, this alliance lasted for centuries. [21] In the words of the Asgard, they "moved on from our region of space long ago", which probably referred to their ascension. [19]
Recent Ancient History
After the Ancients' ascension, they continued to oppose their former nemesis, the Ori, who had also reached enlightnment. Although the two factions are deadlocked in strength, the Ori are still bent on destroying the Ancients once and for all, sapping power from the second evolution of humanity created in their own galaxy to gather enough strength to attack the Ancients. In response, the Ancients chose to hide their own second evolution created in the Milky Way from the Ori. [1] They also probably influenced the associations of fire, the central icon of the Ori religion, with demonic imagery. [8] Still, they refused to take direct action. [7]
The first ascended being ever encountered by the Tau'ri was Oma Desala, when SG-1 arrived on the planet Kheb in their search for Shifu, the young son of Apophis and Sha're. During their stay, the team discovered a Budhist temple, where a single monk appeared to reside. The monk spoke in riddles, but spoke about a being called Oma Desala, a name Daniel Jackson translated as "Mother Nature". Eventually, when the team was preparing to defend the temple from several Jaffa warriors, Daniel discovered a non-corporal being living on Kheb. [22] He eventually formed a personal bond with Oma Desala, who even helped him to ascend on two occasions. [23][11]
Three years later, an Alteran woman, Ayiana, was found frozen in Antarctica near the location of the Antarctica Stargate. She revived herself when thawed, but was still infected with the plague and died very shortly thereafter. There is, as of yet, no explanation as to why she was left behind when the others left for the Pegasus galaxy. [3] Apparently, she was left behind in the Ancient outpost in Antarctica after Atlantis left for the Pegasus Galaxy. [4]
When an Aurora class battleship was discovered by the Daedalus, adrift between the Pegasus and Milky Way galaxy, the crew was stil alive. As the ship was traversing the universe close to light speed, the crew had only experienced a handful of years since the evacuation of Atlantis, due to relativistic effects. After learning that Atlantis had survived the Wraith, they reclaimed the city. However, when the Asurans returned and captured the city, all the remaining Ancients were executed. [13]
After Daniel Jackson and Vala Mal Doran alerted the Ori to the existence of another galaxy filled with humans, starting the Ori invasion of the Milky Way [8], millions of humans were converted to the oppressive Ori religion, feeding them only more power. According to the Ori themselves, the entire conversion of the Milky Way would probably give them enough strength to destroy the Ancients. Still, most of the Ancients refuse to intervene, even though their own existence is threatened. Exceptions include Morgan le Fay and Merlin. [7]
Physiology
Pre-Ascension
The Ancients were human in both appearance and physiology. The main characteristic differentiating the Ancients from ordinary humans is the ATA gene, which occurs naturally in all Ancients. However, due to crossbreeding between the Ancients who returned to Earth after they were forced to abandon Atlantis, several humans on Earth possess the gene. [4] Also, the gene has been introduces in others through gene therapy. [24]
It has been suggested that the humans that evolved in a galaxy far from the Milky Way, those who would later become the Ancients and the Ori, were the first evolution of humanity. [2] It is implied that the current human species evolved as such due to the actions of the Ancients, since two species progressing along identical evolutionary paths is extremely improbable. [3] The Ancients later created the "second evolution" of their species, in both the Milky Way and Pegasus Galaxy. [16]
Towards the end of their evolutionary development, but still before they ascended, the Ancients developed advanced abilities, such as telekenesis, extraordinary sensory abilities, and the ability to heal others. [3] Presumably, most of these abilities were introduced through the DNA Resequencer, as use of the device on ordinary humans can also cause them to exhibit these traits. [25]
Ascension
Eventually, the Ancients were able to ascend, thus transform their body into pure energy. Although this new state of being grants them almost god-like powers, they adhere to a sort of "Prime Directive" which forbids them from influencing the unascended.
The ability to ascend is not strictly Alteran, as both humans, and even Goa'uld have been able to ascend.
Philosophy
The Ancients are well known for their fierce belief in free will. As such, they do not interfere on lower planes of existence at all, even not to save their own kind from being exterminated by the Ori.[7] As punishment for breaking this law, the Ancients have been known to wipe out entire civilizations and abandon the one responsible to correct the grave mistakes caused by one of their people. [26] They have also forced (or tried to force) transgressors to descend back to corporeal form. [27] Ancients are, by every means, capable of drastically altering courses of events at will.
However, what exactly constitutes as breaking their laws is open to debate. Interfering "a little bit", as Vala Mal Doran described it, will be tolerated. [7] Examples of this include the killing of several Jaffa troops[22] and giving the coordinates of Sahal and Castiana to Daniel Jackson. [7] Also, some Ancients, like Oma Desala, repeatedly assists "those beneath" in ascending. Those who follow here are forced to walk a very fine line. [28] Other Ancients who have had to pay the price for interfering in the mortal plaines include Orlin [26] and Chaya Sar. [29]
The Ancients' viewpoints completely oppose those of their distant cousins, the Ori. For example, the Ori religion states that failure to share the secrets of the universe to those on the lower planes of existence is an evil act and that anyone not following it must be eliminated. They also have no rules against taking direct control of living beings or completely changing them to behave as they desire. [8]
This difference in beliefs is not without its reasons. According to a de-ascended Ancient, Orlin, ascended beings can be empowered by massive numbers of humans worshipping them. The Ori have fabricated an entire religion based on the false promise of ascension to drain power from their followers. The Ancients firmly resent using their powers this way, and therefore refrain from interfering in the lower planes of existence as manipulating and aligning lower life forms in some order could result in exactly this type of abusive corruption.[1]
As a result, the Ancients have shielded the second evolution of humans (i.e. current human culture) in the Milky Way from the Ori (and although it has never been stated, they most likely did the same for the seeded humans in the Pegasus Galaxy) and still prevent the Ori from taking direct action in the Milky Way. However, as the Ancients will not interfere in the lower planes of existence, the Ori are allowed to send their human followers to the Milky Way in order to convert it, and anyone who wishes to worship the Ori will be allowed to do so.[8]
Even though the Ancients do not believe in interfering in mortal affairs, it is speculated that they are responsible for generating the associations of fire with Demonic imagery in the Milky Way. This would be another method of shielding humans from the Ori, as the central symbols of Origin involve fire. As Daniel Jackson pointed out, there is no immediate illogicality with fire as a symbol of all that is good: it provides warmth, light, etc.[8]
Also, even before their ascension, the Ancients had strict rules on time travel, although this rule has been broken as well. The Ancient scientist Janus developed time travel technology, leading to Elizabeth Weir using it to travel back to Atlantis 10,000 years previously [16], and to a column containing a history of future events on the Milky Way planet ruled by Harry Maybourne. [30]
Technology
The Ancients' technology, created prior to ascension, is perhaps the most advanced technology discovered by the SGC in the Stargate universe, with the possible exception of Ori technology, which was possibly created with ascended knowledge by the Priors. Among their many achievements are the Stargates and Atlantis, but they have also developed technology as diverse as flying cities, advanced power sources, advanced healing devices and DNA Resequencers. Much of the Ancients' weapons technology was used or designed for use in the centuries-long war with the Wraith in the Pegasus Galaxy.
Much of Ancient technology requires the presence of the ATA gene in the person wishing to use it.
Language and writing system
The Ancients' language appears to be a precursor of Latin, but it is still distinct. However, there are many similarities between the two, and someone with a decent knowledge of Latin will be able to understand Ancient as well. [19] The Athosians, and possibly other human civilizations in the Pegasus Galaxy, say their prayers in Ancient. [24] The Ancient language and writing system is also used by the Ori and their followers. [2] For reasons that have yet to be revealed, the Wraith language is a derivative of the Ancient language, and the two use the same writing system. The Wraith language is relatively easy to translate by experienced Ancient speakers. [31]
As mentioned, the Ancient language has a unique writing system. Unlike the Goa'uld and Asgard writing systems, which correspond to Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and Nordic runes respectively, the Ancient writing system has no analogues with any known Earth alphabet. Generally speaking, Ancient characters are squarish, blocky, and dominated by right angles. There are 25 distinct characters in the Ancient-English conversion. 'F' and 'U' are the same "backwards seven". Exactly how the characters were used by the Ancients is unknown. It has been mentioned that some Ancient characters have different meanings when read upside down and vice-versa. [6]
The Ancient writing system has been shown to be learnable with moderate difficulty by humans. However, the pronounciation of Ancient words has fluctuated during the millennia the language was used. [7]
Transliterations
As all ready mentioned, the Ancient writing has 25 characters roughly corresponding to the Latin alphabet. Most of the Ancient texts seen in the background can be transliterated into English, regularely revealing in-jokes.
- In the episode "Affinity", Daniel Jackson is blackmailed into translating a section of Ancient text. The text shown on Daniel's laptop can be transliterated into "Actual words are hard to deciph(er) so this(')ll work".
- The writings on the stairs in the gate-room on Atlantis translate into a sort of greeting for travellers.
- In "Avalon", the Ancient underground complex belonging to Merlin contains several Alteran (Ancient) to English translations. "Reflect" is one of which.
- In "The Quest", the Parchment of Virtues discovered in the village library is written in Ancient. When transliterated, the paper is titled "parchment of virtues", and the first (and third) passages read, "the true man will look for prudence wisdom kindness charity and faith be the truest of hearts and ye shall find the answer". The second passage is cut off, but the visible portions read, "though i wal hrough the valley of death ... ehe no evil". The last passage reads "hail mary full of grace the lord is with I just ahve bigger bullet launcher than you dig it." The "a" and "h" in "have" are transposed, probably by accident, given the similar appearance of the characters. The first written puzzle can also be clearly seen transcribed on the wall, exactly as Jackson reads it aloud.
Known words and phrases
- Ani - Are
- Anqueetas - Ancients
- Astria Porta - Stargates
- Aveo Amacus - Goodbye, friends.
- Clavia - Key
- Commdo Asordo - Please Help
- Contegia - Disease
- Cozars - Legs
- Cruvus - ill/sick/wrong
- Derentis - insanity/crazy (as paraphrased by Daniel Jackson)
- Dormata - sleep (used by O'Neill to refer to the stasis chamber in the Antarctic Outpost)
- Ego - I
- Etium - Yes
- Euge - Good
- Fallatus - ability
- Farghus - Finished
- Fron - head/mind/brain
- Glacius - Ice
- Indeo - Need
- Incursis - Overtaken / Attacked
- Locas - Location
- Navo - New
- Nou - We
- Proclarush Taonas - "Lost in fire" (phrase may have been coined from the planet's name)
- Subu - Under
- Terra - Earth
- Videum - Legacy
- Vintio - Wind
- Vis Uban - "Place of Great Power" (possibly mistranslation by Jonas Quinn)
Known Ancients
Although most of the Ancients had reached ascension long before the dawn of modern civilization on Earth, the Tau'ri have come in contact with Ancients on several occasions, both in ascended and corporeal form. Most of the corporeal Ancients were encountered in the Pegasus Galaxy, where their empire had collapsed only some 10,000 years ago.
See also
References
- ^ a b c "The Fourth Horseman" (Stargate SG-1)
- ^ a b c "Avalon" (Stargate SG-1)
- ^ a b c d e "Frozen" (Stargate SG-1)
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Rising" (Stargate Atlantis)
- ^ "Lost City" (Stargate SG-1)
- ^ a b "Reckoning" (Stargate SG-1)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "The Pegasus Project" (Stargate SG-1)
- ^ a b c d e f "Origin" (Stargate SG-1)
- ^ a b "Window of Opportunity" (Stargate SG-1)
- ^ "The Powers That Be" (Stargate SG-1)
- ^ a b "Threads" (Stargate SG-1)
- ^ "Instinct" (Stargate Atlantis)
- ^ a b "The Return" (Stargate Atlantis)
- ^ "Trinity" (Stargate Atlantis)
- ^ "Progeny" (Stargate Atlantis)
- ^ a b c "Before I Sleep" (Stargate Atlantis)
- ^ "Epiphany" (Stargate Atlantis)
- ^ "Tao of Rodney" (Stargate Atlantis)
- ^ a b c "The Fifth Race" (Stargate SG-1)
- ^ "Camelot" (Stargate SG-1)
- ^ "The Torment of Tantalus" (Stargate SG-1)
- ^ a b "Maternal Instinct" (Stargate SG-1)
- ^ "Meridian" (Stargate SG-1)
- ^ a b "Hide and Seek" (Stargate Atlantis)
- ^ "Prototype" (Stargate SG-1)
- ^ a b "Ascension" (Stargate SG-1)
- ^ "Fallen" (Stargate SG-1)
- ^ "Full Circle" (Stargate SG-1)
- ^ "Sanctuary" (Stargate Atlantis)
- ^ "It's Good to Be King" (Stargate SG-1)
- ^ "The Gift" (Stargate Atlantis)
External Links
- "Ancients" at GateWorld Omnipedia.
- "Ancients"] at StargateWiki.
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