- "According to Greek mythology, Erebus is a place where condemned souls pass as soon as they die."
- ―Daniel Jackson[src]
Erebus was a planet in the Milky Way galaxy that was used as a major shipbuilding yard for the construction of Goa'uld Ha'tak vessels and facilities for the purification of the Naquadah required to build them. Only Jaffa labor is used, as only they can withstand the temperatures and toxic gasses emitted by the blast furnaces fed by underground volcanic systems. Erebus is orbited by two moons.
Captured enemy Jaffa were sent to a labour camp to work themselves to death on this desolate planet with sparse vegetation. Many are prisoners of war who were unwilling to serve their new Goa'uld masters. The planet was at one point captured by the System Lord Ba'al. A forcefield had defended the Stargate on Erebus, much like an iris. The workers were guarded by Jaffa in the service of Ba'al, who were overseen by the Erebus Commander. When slaves become too weak to make their work quotas, they were taken out in front of the encampment and publicly executed.
Known in Greek mythology as the place where condemned souls pass as soon as they die, Erebus is considered one of the first levels of hell. Dr. Daniel Jackson once visited the planet as an ascended being, but could only watch the torment of the Jaffa, powerless to interfere because of the rules of the Ancients. When he returned to human form and rejoined SG-1, he led the team to the planet where Teal'c's son Rya'c and mentor Bra'tac were held prisoner -- captured during an apparent attempt to liberate the camp and win recruits to the Rebel Jaffa. Erebus's slave encampment was liberated by SG-1, SG-2 and SG-3 during a daring attack, after sabotaging and making crash a Ha'tak in construction. All of its prisoners eventually being relocated to the Alpha Site, anxious to join the Jaffa Rebellion. (SG1: "Orpheus")
Trivia
- The second tallest volcano on the continent of Antarctica is named Mount Erebus. Coincidentally, Antarctica plays a major role later in the same season in which the planet Erebus featured.