Asgard

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Thor of the Asgard

Summary

The Asgard are a highly evolved humanoid race, former members of the Great Alliance of four races. It has been said about them: "They are a friend to all and protector of all, except the Goa'uld with whom they are at war." Physically they have remarkable similarities to the Roswell Grays of UFO legend; they did admit to the SGC that they have visited Earth several times. They were introduced as a species in 2.06 "Thor's Chariot", and have remained major players in our galaxy since.

Stargate References

Biological Background

Thor as human hologram
Asgard body
Asgard head

The Asgard race was first referenced to in 1.10 "Thor's Hammer". A hologram of a Norse warrior claimed to be the Thor, the Supreme Commander of the Asgard Fleet. The holographic image was in stark contrast to the Asgard's actual appearance. They are around a meter tall, and have a light purple/gray complexion with veins, or an Asgard equivalent, visible, and smooth, waxy-looking skin. Their heads are massive in comparison to their bodies, with the majority of space taken up by a large cranium and large black eyes, devoid of irises. Their nostrils and ears are simply holes in the skull, and the mouth is very small and narrow. Their bodies are very slender, with minimal muscles on their frame, long arms nearly reaching their knees, and six fingers on their hands. They appear to have a nearly human skeleton, with collarbones, shoulder blades, and a ribcage. No sexual organs are visible. The Asgard body does not possess an adrenal system (Stargate Atlantis 2.20 "Allies"). Their appearance is very similar to a myth of the Tau'ri: alien visitors known as Roswell Grays. Given the extreme physical resemblance and the fact that the Asgard have admitted studying Earth closely for some time, the Asgard and the Roswell Grays are most likely one and the same. (2.06 "Thor's Chariot", 3.22 "Nemesis Part 1", 4.01 "Small Victories Part 2")

The Asgard now reproduce exclusively through a process of enhanced cellular mitosis; they've have been incapable of cellular division through meiosis for nearly a thousand years. (Heimdall noted that that little piece of trivia was not something the Asgard usually discuss with other races.) In essence, their bodies are a genetic template, and they are incapable of sexual reproduction. However, their ability to copy the template, combined with the ability to transfer an entire Asgard mind via computer, this has given them a measure of immortality: when the body fails with age or is killed, the mind is transferred to a younger body. However, deterioration caused by copying the same template over and over again has caused genetic decay. The clones were subtly altered with a controlled mutation at some point, but they are at the limits of their technical ability to continue cloning themselves. (5.22 "Revelations")

Early Asgard body

For the Asgard, there is perhaps a solution. On a planet controlled by the System Lord Anubis, a research facility was set up to study an Asgard 30,000 years old, placed into suspended animation for a trip from the Asgard homeworld. The Asgard in question was much different from modern Asgard. It had a white/gray tint to its skin, as well as a much smaller cranium, and eyes in scale with the body. As well, it had an actual nose and a much more human set of lips. The body was more robust, and appeared to be around the same height as a modern human. The Asgard were furiously studying this Asgard, because it came from a time when the program of genetic manipulation was reversible. However, the results of the research are unknown. (5.22 "Revelations")

The Asgard Loki sought to solve the problem if decaying genetics of the Asgard cloning technology by cloning humans and studying those clones as potential new bodies for Asgard consciousnesses. He tried this on Jack O'Neill, whose brain he thought might be capable of holding an Asgard intellect, but was caught due to a marker that had been placed in O'Neill's DNA. Presumably Thor stopped Loki from performing further experiments, so that the problem of genetic breakdown has not yet been solved for the Asgard. (7.03 "Fragile Balance")

Cultural Background

In Earth history, the Asgard are the basis of the Norse Mythology. Many other figures of the race, as well as names for some of their technology, are highly suggestive of this link: Thor and his Hammer, Aegir and his ship Valhalla, Freyr, Heimdall, and Loki. The Asgard have had interest in the Tau'ri for generations and have visited many times. They feel a great affinity with the human race, regarding it as a suitable candidate for their Great Alliance as its fifth member. When O'Neill asked the Asgard their opinion of humanity, an Asgard replied, "your race has great potential" (2.16 "The Fifth Race"). The fact that they regard us as a potential fifth race could imply that the Alliance is still in existence, however this is still conjectural, as at least one member race is presumed extinct from this plane of existence (Ancients), and a second race has not been seen in recent years (Furlings). The Nox and the Asgard have only been known to have established ties and diplomacy with the Tau'ri, not with each other.

The Asgard have been known to pose as gods for a culture, as seen for two of the more primitive societies they protect, those on Cimmeria and K'Tau. Although in this respect they use a similar tactic as the Goa'uld, their 'godhood' is entirely benevolent, and the societies they protect, whether aware of the true nature of the Asgard or not, are allowed to develop naturally, apart from their worship of the Asgard gods. (2.06 "Thor's Chariot", 5.05 "Red Sky", 9.12 "Collateral Damage")

Perhaps fearing humanity's demise, the Asgard went so far as to establish a Protected Planets Treaty with the Goa'uld System Lords. Under this treaty, the Goa'uld leave a protected planet alone or suffer the consequences from the more advanced Asgard ships and weapons. During the negotiations to add Earth to the treaty, the Goa'uld wanted the Tau'ri to forfeit their Stargates, but settled for threatening that any Tau'ri caught off-world by a Goa'uld would be shown no mercy (3.03 "Fair Game"). Since Cimmeria has Thor's Hammer, it was not necessary for it to be named in the treaty; it is not certain whether or not it is included. (1.10 "Thor's Hammer", 5.05 "Red Sky")

The Riddle of Pi

On Cimmeria, and perhaps on all worlds that the Asgard watch over, is a device for communication with the Asgard homeworld. These devices, referred to on Cimmeria as The Hall of Thor's Might, enable the Asgard to determine when a culture is advanced enough to understand that their gods are not truly gods, but advanced aliens. On Cimmeria, the device put the people brave enough to try through a series of tests, both physical and mental. The tests may be different on different worlds, but on Cimmeria, the people in question had to walk across what appeared to be a very narrow (~1 foot) stone walkway suspended across a great void. The values of selflessness and courage were given high marks on this part of the test. For the second part, the people were presented with a wall of pictographs, a wall of geometric shapes, and a wall of Norse runes. The runes spelled out 3.1415, the first five digits of pi. The geometric shapes were for showing the relevance of this value; only the circle was relevant for pi. The circle was of a soft sand that could be drawn upon. Drawing the radius and circumference drew the sand away, revealing a red glass stone. When touched, the stone activated contact to the Asgard homeworld, presumably Thor in particular. It is unknown to which worlds the Asgard have chosen to reveal themselves. Cimmeria is one, of course, and the people of Gelar know that they have been under the protection of the Asgard for generations, even as they developed their own advanced technology (2.06 "Thor's Chariot", 9.12 "Collateral Damage").

On K'Tau, Carter manipulated the panel that controlled the recorded holographic message, and that action initiated contact with the Asgard, in this case, Freyr (5.05 "Red Sky").

Asgard High Council

The nature of Asgard society is relatively unknown. Family structure, social customs, and geography are left almost completely to conjecture. It is known that they have had at least three homeworlds, from oldest to youngest: Hala, in the Othala galaxy, Othala, in the Ida galaxy, and Orilla, likely also in Ida. Some part of the galaxy is around 4 million light-years from Earth. (2.16 "The Fifth Race", 6.12 "Unnatural Selection", 8.01 "New Order Part 1", 8.02 "New Order Part 2")

The Asgard written language is runic and highly reminiscent of Germanic languages. It is perhaps this base that the Germanic languages on Earth came from. The governing body of the species is known as the Asgard High Council. The size of this body is unknown, but Thor, Freyr, and Penigal are members of it. This political body apparently holds all judicial, executive, and legislative powers of the Asgard government (5.05 "Red Sky").

Technological Background

In terms of technology, the Asgard are the third most advanced race in the known universe. The Ancients/Ori are more advanced given their ascension/starship technology, and the Replicators are known to have combined several cultures' technology into their collective being. Thor admitted at one time that the Replicators were capable of modifying the Asgard's weapons technology beyond their understanding (4.01 "Small Victories Part 2"). However, the Asgard are still vastly powerful in their own right. Their starships are capable of crossing the vast distances of galaxies in just a few minutes and are powerful enough to engage Goa'uld and Wraith starships and win with ease. However, the Asgard are not an aggressive or militaristic people, and have been shown to be highly benevolent with their technology, even being remorseful at the prospect of destroying a life.

Beyond starship technology, the Asgard are known to be highly advanced, with many fantastic capabilities, such as time dilation, suspended animation, and Stargate technology. Neutronium, trinium, and naquadah are known to be highly useful elements in their advanced technology. For more information, see Technology of the Asgard.

Asgard Starships

The Beliskner-Class Ship is the name for the most commonly seen type of Asgard ship. It is named after the first ship of its type seen in the series, the Beliskner, commanded by Thor, Supreme Commander of the Asgard Fleet. The first time we see the Beliskner-Class is in the episode 3.22 "Nemesis", although it was indirectly seen in 2.06 "Thor's Chariot".
The O'Neill-Class ship is the name for the Asgard ship first seen in 4.01 "Small Victories Part 2". It is the first Asgard ship designed to fight the Replicators, and is the most advanced ship of its time. It is named for Jack O'Neill of the SGC, for his actions in assisting the Asgard war against the Replicators in 3.22 "Nemesis Part 1".
The Jackson-class Mothership is the latest starship design of the Asgard. Its role in the Asgard fleet is similar to that of the Beliskner-class ship, as an exploratory/science vessel, as opposed to the O'Neill-class Warship. The first time we see a ship of this class is 7.03 "Fragile Balance." Its commander was Loki, an Asgard geneticist.

Notable Characters

  • Thor - The Supreme Commander of the Asgard Fleet has a tremendous amount of admiration for the humans of Earth. The most well known Asgard, he has been the SGC's most trusted Asgard ally and friend. He has fought for Tau'ri interests in several occasions, both with and for them. He has given several pieces of Asgard technology to Earth, and has granted Asgard engineers to help utilize them. We first meet Thor in 1.10 "Thor's Hammer".
  • Freyr - Freyr is an Asgard of similar nature to Thor, posing as the god of K'Tau. He has had several meetings with the SGC, and was one who contacted the SGC after Thor's "death".
  • Heimdall - Heimdall is an Asgard scientist specializing in genetics. He was working on the Asgard genetic problem and was assigned to the Asgard specimen being analyzed in the Adara System. This was considered vitally important to the Asgard.
  • Hermiod - Hermiod is an Asgard scientist with specialization in spaceflight and engineering. In contrast to Thor, he is rather quick tempered and often gets annoyed at the comparatively primitive humans.
  • Kvasir - Kvasir is an Asgard specializing in engineering and technology. He helped the SGC, Carter in particular, with such troubles as the multiple alternate SG-1's and the Ori Supergate. He has no sense of humor and tends to be smug and condescending to his Tau'ri allies, much to Carter's annoyance.

Alliances

  • Once the Asgard discovered that the Tau'ri of Earth had reopened the Stargate and were exploring the galaxy, they began to depend on them to help in the fight against the Replicators. The Asgard, in turn, helped Earth by including it in the Protected Planets Treaty the Asgard had made with the Goa'uld System Lords. The Asgard regard Earth as well on its way to being a member of the Great Alliance. They hold the SGC personnel in great esteem for their actions in assisting the Asgard in the Replicator war, as well as helping them with their genetic difficulties. The Asgard have given the Earth much technology, helping humanity reach the stars.
  • The Asgard defend several worlds against the Goa'uld System Lords, twenty-six in all. It is unknown if the Protected Planets Treaty is still being honored by the Asgard, given that the System Lords have been largely eliminated. Most likely, the Asgard are still posing as the gods of the protected peoples and are working to advance them to the point where they are ready to learn the truth about their protectors.

Enemies

  • We first meet the Asgard knowing they were at war with the Goa'uld. However, for the most part they let the Goa'uld cower in fear at the power of their technology, rather than actually backing up the entire ability to destroy the Goa'uld.
  • The Replicators voraciously attempted to expand in territory and technology, with the Asgard being the primary defenders against them. The Asgard finally defeated the Replicators, with much needed assistance from the Tau'ri.
  • The Ori are attempting to invade the Milky Way galaxy via Supergates, and the Asgard have given military support to the fight to halt their spread into this galaxy.
  • While not in direct war with the Wraith, the Asgard are clearly willing to defend the Tau'ri against their enemy.

Gallery

O'Neill visits Hala
Thor
O'Neill and ill Thor
Carter on Hala with Thor
Asgard High Council
Freyr visits the SGC
Heimdall in his lab
Heimdall and SG-1
Thor aboard Daniel Jackson

Episodes

Related Characters

Related Articles

Further Reading

Norse Mythology
Roswell UFO Incident


Article written for Solutions by Jordan Kreiger; edited by Michelle
--Michelle 21:05, 10 June 2006 (PDT)