Kobol

Kobol is the ancestral homeworld for humanity in both Battlestar Galactica sagas. In both series, an unexplained event or catastrophe causes humanity to leave Kobol and settle on the planets that form their new homeworlds known as the Twelve Colonies.

Kobol in the Original Series

The tombs of the Lords of Kobol as seen in the Original Series. This shot is obviously based on the Egyptian pyramids of real-world Earth.

In the Original Series, Kobol was the mother world where mankind originated. An ecological / environmental disaster led to humanity's migration. During the migration, 12 tribes set out for the stars, but became lost in a starless void before stumbling into the worlds that would become the new Twelve Colonies of Kobol, while the 13th again headed for a world called "Earth".

Kobol is rediscovered in the two-part episode, "Lost Planet of the Gods." A team from Galactica arrive among the ruins of Eden, the planet's largest city, seeking to enter the tomb of the Ninth Lord of Kobol in order to find clues as to the route taken by the Thirteeth Tribe. A Cylon attack ultimately prevents them from doing so.

Kobol in the Re-imagined Series

Kobol as seen from space in the Re-imagined Series.

Kobol is said to be the original home of mankind, once shared with the Lords of Kobol.

Kobol is a verdant world of seas and continents, the latter having large swathes of woodland, grassland and forests. It was located in Sector 218 of the galaxy (Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I).

Kobol was a place where humans and the gods dwelt in harmony, the seat of power being the City of the Gods in the northern hemisphere, itself dominated by the Forum 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 from Kobol took place some 2,000 years prior to the events of the new Battestar Galactica. At that time, the 12 tribes departed Kobol for another star system.

It is unclear whether the gods themselves departed Kobol at this time. However, given that their presence is not seen among the 12 colonies, it is possible they remained on Kobol. This may be the reason why not everyone departed Kobol at the time of the Great Exodus.

Certainly, it is known that the Thirteenth Tribe departed Kobol some time before the main exodus (Miniseries), to seek a planet known as "Earth". The gods may also have abandoned Kobol at this time to travel with the Thirteenth Tribe.

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. Chief among these writings are those of Pythia, who wrote some 1,600 years prior to the Great Exodus, fortelling of 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 - which can be considered a wasting disease. Further, she has several visions, including one of 12 snakes (The Hand of God) that is specifically foretold by Pythia.

According to Six, 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)

Rediscovering Kobol

Kobol is re-discovered by chance when the Galactica dispatches her Raptors to locate planets which may provide materials needed to re-supply the fleet (Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I).

Following the discovery as predicted by the Cylon agent 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 retreived from 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 must be eliminated. It is planned to use the captured Cylon Raider to help with this, but before any plan can be put into action, Lt. Kara "Starbuck" Thrace uses the Raider to go to Caprica in an attempt to recover the Arrow. (Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I).

The crashed Raptor survivors were subsequently rescued, after battling Cylon Centurions on the surface (Fragged). After escaping from Galactica, President Roslin played up her role as "the Leader" sent by the Gods, and convinced a third of the Fleet to return to Kobol with her (The Farm). When Starbuck returned to Kobol with the Arrow of Apollo, Roslin descended to the surface with a small team, including Lee "Apollo" Adama, Starbuck, Helo, and Tom Zarek. The Cylon Caprica-Sharon, who claimed to know how to help Roslin reach the Tomb of Athena, was brought as well to help guide them. Along the way on the surface, Roslin's team fought with additional Centurions, resulting in the death of Priest Elosha, Roslin's personal religious advisor (Home, Part I). However, Commander William Adama realized that he had to put the Fleet back together and Jumped to Kobol in a Raptor, along with Chief Galen Tyrol and Roslin's aide Billy Keikeya, and Adama reunited and reconciled with Roslin on the surface.

Upon reaching the Tomb of Athena, Tom Zarek's associate Meier tried to kill Commander Adama and Apollo (ultimately against Zarek's wishes), but was killed by Caprica-Sharon to save Adama's life. Leaving Helo, Zarek, and Caprica-Sharon outside along with Chief Tyrol to "guard" them, Adama and the rest of the team went inside. Adama, Apollo, Starbuck, Billy, and Roslin became the first people to see the inside of the Tomb in centuries. They used the Arrow to activate a holographic map display which indicated the general direction of Earth, and returned to Galactica where Commander Adama reinstated President Roslin and the Fleet continued its journey (Home, Part II).

Similarities of Kobol between Original and Re-imagined Series

• It is the original home of humanity
• It is found by chance by both Fleets
• A tomb may hold the key to the location of Earth
  • Ninth Lord of Kobol - Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I
  • Tomb of Athena - Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I
• Special keys are needed to open or access the secrets of the tomb
  • Adama's Medallion
  • The Arrow of Apollo
• The Colonials encounter Cylons during their quests.

Etymology of "Kobol"

"Kobol" originally appears to have derived from "Kolob" which, according to the Mormon Book of Abraham is the "star nearest unto God". Glen A. Larson, creator of the Original Series. is a member of the of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As such, he used Mormon imagery within the show, together with elements of Eygptian imagery that tend to reflect the time of Abraham and the Israelites.

Cinematic Note

In the Re-imagined Series, much of the scenic, expansive landscapes of Kobol were filmed at Widgeon Slough, the largest freshwater marsh in the the Pinecone Burke Provincial Park, Britsh Columbia, Port Coquitlam (Source in part: The Official Companion).