Scorpia: the Colonies' playground
the Playground of the Colonies
A ringed jungle world of Helios Gamma that lived on its tourist trade, and also held the Scorpion Fleet Shipyards that built for the Colonial Fleet.
Scorpia, known as "Playground of the Colonies," was a planet in the Cyrannus star system orbiting the star Helios Gamma, and one of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. It was named after the Scorpio tribe who had resided on Kobol, though its citizens may not have been affiliated with that tribe. A verdant jungle world encircled by a ring system, Scorpia combined a large tourism trade with orbital shipyards that built vessels for the Colonial Fleet. (Twelve Colonies map, Caprica; Battlestar Galactica: Razor)
History#
Scorpia's foundations are unknown, but like the other planets of the Helios Gamma system it became a battleground in the colonial proxy wars between Virgon and Leonis, two Helios Beta worlds that held planetary empires. These imperial conflicts ended around 200 BCH, after which the colonies grew more welcoming of interplanetary travel. In the two centuries of stability that preceded the Cylon War, Scorpia developed a large tourism sector and became a popular vacation resort. By the time of the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, its population had reached 450 million. Most of this history comes from the official Cyrannus map made for Caprica rather than from anything said on screen. (Twelve Colonies map, Caprica)
Geography#
Before the Fall, Scorpia was a verdant jungle world noted for its dense foliage, the towering Guardian Mountains, and the tropical Argentum Bay. The planet was encircled by a ring system created when a moon broke up some 100,000 years before settlement. (Twelve Colonies map, Caprica; Battlestar Galactica: The Plan)
Economy#
Using the planet's rings, Scorpia's industry was geared toward mineral extraction and the construction of ships in orbital yards. The Scorpion Fleet Shipyards were a major builder for the Colonial Fleet during the First Cylon War. This industry survived the war and was finally destroyed in 0 BCH during the Fall of the Colonies, when Cylon forces obliterated the orbital yards and the battlestars docked there. (Twelve Colonies map, Caprica; Battlestar Galactica: Razor; Battlestar Galactica: The Plan) Alongside its shipbuilding, the planet supported a large tourism sector thanks to its environment. Scorpia was known throughout the Twelve Worlds for two major cities, Celeste and Argentum, of which Celeste was also the capital. (Twelve Colonies map, Caprica)
Culture#
Scorpians placed great value on religious toleration and family orientation, with Dionysus as their patron god. (Twelve Colonies map, Caprica)
Frequently asked questions
- What is Scorpia?
- Scorpia was a verdant jungle planet in the Cyrannus star system orbiting the star Helios Gamma, and one of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. Encircled by a ring system, it combined a large tourism trade with orbital shipyards that built vessels for the Colonial Fleet.
- Why was Scorpia called the Playground of the Colonies?
- In the two centuries of stability before the Cylon War, Scorpia developed a large tourism sector and became a popular vacation resort thanks to its tropical environment. Its jungle scenery, the Guardian Mountains, and the tropical Argentum Bay made it a draw across the Twelve Worlds.
- How did Scorpia get its ring system?
- Scorpia's rings were created when a moon broke up some 100,000 years before the planet was settled. The rings gave the planet both its scenery and its industry, since Scorpia's economy was geared toward mineral extraction using the rings.
- What happened to Scorpia?
- Scorpia's shipbuilding industry survived the First Cylon War but was destroyed in 0 BCH during the Fall of the Colonies. At the time of the Fall its population stood at 450 million.
- Who was Scorpia's patron god?
- Scorpians venerated Dionysus as their patron god. They placed great value on religious toleration and family orientation.
Gallery
Images via Battlestar Wiki
Sources
- WebTwelve Colonies map, Caprica, Official map of the Cyrannus system made for Caprica (Syfy, 2010)
- FilmBattlestar Galactica: Razor, Universal Cable Productions, 2007
- FilmBattlestar Galactica: The Plan, Universal Cable Productions, 2009
Spotted a factual error or a primary source we missed? Email a correction. Every flagged claim gets reviewed.
Followed from this entry
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