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Babylonians

From Sonic Retro

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Babylonians
First seen: Sonic Riders (2006)
Members: Stolen, Shugo-hei

In the history of Sonic's world, the Babylonians were a technologically advanced civilization whose legacy forms the basis for the storylines of Sonic Riders and Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity. They were the creators of Babylon Garden and the Arks of the Cosmos, as well as an early form of Extreme Gear. The Babylon Rogues believe themselves to be descended from ancient Babylonians.

History

The Babylonians were a race of avian aliens that traveled to Sonic's world long ago. They came into existence some time after the Ancients traveled to the planet to escape The End.[1][2] Crafted by the people of Babylon, or possibly by another civilization even older than them, the Arks of the Cosmos were stone rings. They were used to power the Astral Babylon, a spaceship the Babylonians used to travel though space. While in orbit of Sonic’s world, the ship malfunctioned and created a huge black hole. The Arks of the Cosmos were jettisoned into space to save Astral Babylon. The Arks were left in orbit, hoping that someday they would fall back down to the surface. The children of Babylon wished that they could go home every time they saw a shooting star, hoping it was one of the Arks falling from space. This started a tradition among the people of Earth to make wishes when seeing shooting stars.[3]

As time passed the story of their ship became the legend of the Divine Wings. The legend says the Divine Wings was a legendary bird that the gods rode through the heavens. The Arks of the Cosmos became known as the Divine Wings’ plumes. And the black hole that caused their starship to crash became known as the lightless black. The legend was written on the Gigan Rocks, and one of the Arks that returned to the planet was placed here in a chalice. It was booby trapped so no one could take it and create another black hole.[4]

While stuck on this world, the Babylonian people became a band of legendary rogues. In the era of Stolen, the thirteenth leader of the Babylon Rogues, they used their technology to develop carpets with the ability to float above the ground. They traveled all over the world, collecting treasure with their tech, and inspired stories of wish granting genies. Over time the technology evolved and became known as "Extreme Gear". Another story was passed down in legend of a boy who received an angel wing from the Babylonians as a gift. With this, the boy was able to rule the world for a time. The early Extreme Gear was eventually locked away in Babylon Garden. It was looked after under the watch of the Babylon Guardian. This treasure could only be found with the Key to Babylon Garden, which was protected by the leader of the Babylon Rogues. At some point, Babylon Garden fell from the sky and crashed into the Sand Ruins to be buried. No one really knows how this happened. The legend says that the crimes committed by the Babylon Rogues incurred the wrath of the gods and they struck down Babylon Garden. The Garden could potentially be returned to the sky, but it would require the Key to Babylon Garden to be united with the seven Chaos Emeralds.[5]

Sonic Riders series

In Sonic Riders, just before the Splash Canyon race, Tails recounts an old legend that the Babylonians were cast down from the sky and scattered because they had angered the Gods. Zero Gravity reveals the hidden truth behind this myth: that the Babylonians had an extraterrestrial origin, and travelled to Sonic's world aboard the starship Astral Babylon. However, some sort of accident or instability with the Arks of the Cosmos forced them crash-land on the planet. Over time, the stranded Babylonians lost their high technology and even the knowledge of their own history, leaving behind only misunderstood legends and the occasional glittering artefact, like the crystalline cube passed down by Jet's father.

As their ancient simulation, Shugo-hei, indicates, the ancient Babylonians resembled birds crossed with genies. Amy speculates that the tradition of "wishing upon a star" may have originated from the grounded Babylonians' yearning to return to space and get back to their home world.

Sonic Rush Adventure

The ancient civilization made a puzzle lock for the undersea doors of Pirates' Island; solve with the DS stylus.
After the floating continent fell to earth, the people had to live down here among us. But they one day longed to return to the sky, so they left keys to point the way. So that one day, their descendants might regain what they had lost.

— Blaze the Cat, explaining the Hidden Islands' ruins

In Sonic Rush Adventure, Sonic and Tails explore the parallel Sol Dimension where Blaze and Marine live. Tantalising hints from an ancient civilization can be found around the Hidden Islands of the game's vast ocean - the most concrete of which comes in the form of a lost floating city, Sky Babylon. One of their ancient altars raises Coral Cave - resting place of the Jewelled Scepter - from the sea, and their old writings indicate that they built the submarine defences beneath what has become Captain Whisker's Pirates' Island.

The name "Sky Babylon", as well as the suspiciously similar story of their fall from the heavens, implies that these ancient works may point to the Sol Dimension counterparts of Sonic's world's Babylonians.

In other media

Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie comics)

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Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (film)

The Babylonians were referenced in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 as part of Longclaw's clan. Scavengers seen in the film wore colors in reference to Jet, Wave and Storm.[6]

References