Repository of the Ancients

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A repository interface in its quiescent state.

In the Stargate science fiction universe, a Repository of the Ancients is a device that contains a library of the knowledge of the Ancients, the builders of the Stargate network.

[edit] The device

The repository has an interface that allows it to transfer knowledge directly into the mind of the user. It has only ever been seen to download all of the knowledge in it, and never only a portion, and it does this in a few seconds. Usually, this drains all of its power.

In season 10 of Stargate SG-1, Daniel Jackson was however able to control a repository of knowledge to create the anti-ori weapon and gain only some of the knowledge of the ancients- namely Merlin's memories (however this may have been a modified version). In doing so, Daniel also became a Hok'Tar.

O'Neill having the information from the Repository of the Ancients downloaded into his brain

Only the repository's interface is shown; it is suggested but left unclear whether there is a larger device behind it that holds the information and supplies the power (since SG-1 has considered taking a repository with them the total size of the equipment is probably not enormous). The interface is a metallic circle, with a dark window in the middle. When activated, the device extends to grip the user's head while the knowledge is transferred. The device downloads information only to certain beings; it did so to Jack O'Neill and not to Teal'c. Two of the main theories on the differentiation are that it requires the user to have the Ancient gene, or that the device is programmed not to download the knowledge into Jaffa. This was, however prior to Carson Beckett's discovery of the gene.

Only two repositories have ever been found (one of which has been destroyed and the other of which ran out of power after use), though there could conceivably be more. These repositories would be a valuable asset to anyone who discovered them due to the immense technological and scientific knowledge they contain.

Similar stores of Ancient information were found in Atlantis, though with a more conventional computer interface that doesn't directly upload information into the brain. As of yet very little of this information has been sent back to Earth for study.

[edit] The knowledge

The Ancients were the most advanced race in the galaxy, but during the later years of their era some of the Ancients Ascended to a higher plane of existence (in effect, disappeared), when they were afflicted by a huge plague that killed an untold amount of their population. Ever since, lesser races like the Goa'uld have tried to make use of the technology they left behind, and on many occasions, SG-1 of Earth use their technology to defend Earth, such as when Jack O'Neill used the Antarctica Ancient Outpost weapon to destroy Anubis' attack fleet ("Lost City (Part 2)").

What the user sees as the knowledge is downloaded

The vast amount of knowledge the device transfers can hurt a recipient whose brain is unable to absorb it. When Jack O'Neill used the device on two occasions, the information slowly took over his brain. While allowing him to build advanced technology, such as the power generator which allowed the Stargate to dial an eight-chevron address ("The Fifth Race") and a weapon capable of defeating any Replicators ("New Order (Part 1)"), it also caused his brain to slowly degrade over a few days, rendering him unable to speak any language apart from Ancient. This would have eventually lead to his mind being totally destroyed, (i.e. death). This was remedied by wiping his memory.

While possessing the Ancient knowledge, O'Neill was able to heal Bra'tac, who was severely injured by one of Anubis's spies, but it left him exhausted. This was because, as Dr. Fraiser revealed in the episode Frozen, it did more than give O'Neill knowledge. It was also rewriting part of his DNA. Jaffa may not be able to use it for nothing happened to Teal'c when he looked into it.

Thousands of years ago, the Asgard managed to transfer some of the data from the device into their own computer systems in order to try and learn from it. They have learned much. However, the amount of information is so vast that they have barely scratched the surface. Thor has speculated that the information could well be infinite. However, when the Asgard connected O'Neill's brain to the computer on Thor's ship while it was still loaded with Ancient knowledge, he was able to design the aforementioned anti-Replicator weapon before the information in his brain would have killed him.

[edit] Merlin's Variant Repository

In The Quest, Pt. 2, a variant version of the Repository of Knowledge was discovered in the tomb of Merlin. This type of the device was used by Merlin himself in the creation of the Sangraal. The formerly ascended Ancient would interface with the device and use two rods that slid out at the bottom of the device. Using this device, he was capable of creating the Sangraal on a molecular level which required a great deal of concentration on the part of the user. It was also capable of downloading the memories of its operator. The same type of device is seen aboard an Ori Battlecruiser in "The Shroud" and is used by Dr Jackson to finish building the Sangraal.

It is unknown whether this Repository of Knowledge was a variant or all Repositories have similar capabilities.

[edit] Encounters with Ancient Repositories

SG-1's first encounter with an Ancient Repository was in The Fifth Race, during which Jack's head gets grabbed by the device. Returning to the SGC, Jack begins to develop alien devices, adds new Gate addresses to the dialing computer and loses the ability to speak English. They discover the knowledge in his brain is too powerful and soon his body won't be able to handle the stress. However, Jack travels to another galaxy where the Asgard remove the information. They tell him about the Alliance of four great races and the Tau'ri are advancing to become the Fifth Race. Jack is then sent home.

Five years later SG-1 finds another Repository.Lost City Part 1, However, Anubis is aware of its existence as well. They tried to remove the Repository and bring it back to Earth to safely store the data to locate the Lost City of the Ancients. When Anubis attacks the planet, Jack has no choice but to download the information into his brain again. Using the Control Chair in the Ancient outpost, they find out that the Lost City was on Earth all along in Antarctica. They used the Chair in Antarctica to destroy Anubis' fleet. Jack had to put himself in stasis.

A few weeks later, Carter and Teal'c go to the Asgard in a Tel'tak that O'Neill modified. Thor linked O'Neill's mind to the computer to create the Replicator Disrupter and remove the information at the last second.

Technology in Stargate		Edit
Tau'ri	GDO | Horizon | IDC | Stargate Iris | Kull Disruptor | P90 | MALP | The Seeker Project | Naqahdah Generator Wraith retrovirus | F-302 | Prometheus (BC-303) | Daedalus-class Battlecruiser
Goa'uld/Tok'ra	Al'kesh | Death Glider | Ha'tak Mothership | Hand Device | Healing Device | Intar | Memory Recall Technology | Sarcophagus | Staff Weapon Tel'tak | TER | Tunnel Crystals | Zat | Zatarc detector
Ancient	Ancient City Ship | Ancient Control Chair | ATA Gene | Atlantis | Aurora-class Battleship | Dakara Weapon | DHD DNA Resequencer | Drone Weapon | Healing Device | Project Arcturus | Puddle Jumper | Repository of Knowledge Ring Transporter | Sangraal | Stargate | Time Dilation Device | Zero Point Module
Asgard	Beliskner-class ship | Daniel Jackson-class ship | O'Neill-class ship | Thor's Hammer
Other	Wraith Dart | Wraith Hive-Ship | Supergate | Ori Mothership
Lists by race	All | Tau'ri | Ancient, Aschen, Asgard, Goa'uld, Ori, Tok'ra, Tollan, Wraith | Other