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The '''Panopticon''' was the main room of the [[Capitol]] on [[Gallifrey]]. The [[Eye of Harmony]] was secretly kept under the Panopticon. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Deadly Assassin]]'')
{{Infobox Location
|image          = Panopticon Deadly Assassin.jpg
|aka            =
|type          =
|location      = [[The Capitol]]
|first          = The Deadly Assassin (TV story)
|appearances    = [[Panopticon/Appearances|'''''see list''''']]
}}{{counterparts |name=Panopticon|2=Panopticon (Barusa's universe)}}
The '''Panopticon''' was the main room of [[the Capitol]] on [[Gallifrey]]. It served as the [[Time Lord]]s' parliament and seat of State. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Engines of War (novel)|Engines of War]]'') The [[Eye of Harmony]] was secretly kept under the Panopticon. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Deadly Assassin (TV story)|The Deadly Assassin]]'')


The Panopticon had six sides, as that number was revered on Gallifrey being the amount founders of [[Time Lord]] society. At every corner of the Panoptican, there are six black statues of the six founders of Time Lord society ([[Rassilon]], [[Omega]], [[Pandak]], [[The Other]], [[Apeiron]] and one other, possibly Eutenoyar). Every [[Chapter House]] ([[Prydonian Chapter]], [[Arcalian Chapter]], [[Patrex Chapter]], [[Dromeian Chapter]], [[Cerulean Chapter]] and the [[Scendles Chapter]]) were involved in a competition to build a bigger statue of their founder than the other Chapter Houses, which resulted in the Scendles Chapter being bankrupt. ([[EDA]]: ''[[The Ancestor Cell]]'') When Gallifrey's suns shined on the Panopticon, the interior would glow turqouise. ([[EDA]]: ''[[The Tomorrow Windows]]'')
== Structure ==
The Panopticon had six sides, one for each of the [[Founders of Gallifrey]]. At every corner of the Panopticon, there were six black statues of the six founders of Time Lord society ([[Rassilon]], [[Omega]], [[Pandak]], [[the Other]], [[Apeiron]] and one other, possibly [[Eutenoyar]]). Every [[Chapter|college]] ([[Prydonian Chapter]], [[Arcalian Chapter]], [[Patrex Chapter]], [[Dromeian Chapter]], [[Cerulean Chapter]] and the [[Scendeles Chapter]]) was involved in a competition to build a bigger statue of their founder than the other Chapterhouses, which resulted in the Scendeles Chapter being bankrupted. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Ancestor Cell (novel)|The Ancestor Cell]]'') When Gallifrey's suns shone on the Panopticon, the interior glowed turquoise. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Tomorrow Windows (novel)|The Tomorrow Windows]]'') The Panopticon's ceiling was so high that [[cloud]]s formed near it, and sometimes it [[rain]]ed; ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Eight Doctors (novel)|The Eight Doctors]]'', ''[[Warmonger (novel)|Warmonger]]'') above it were metallic [[gantry|gantries]] from which the spires of the rest of the Capitol could be seen. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|Blood Invocation (comic story)}})
[[File:The Twelfth Doctor and Rassilon of the Panopticon.jpg|left|thumb|The Twelfth Doctor and Rassilon in the Panopticon. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Supremacy of the Cybermen (comic story)|Supremacy of the Cybermen]]'')]]


The name ''panopticon'' was likely derived from ''opticon'', the Gallifreyan word for the ancient village meeting place. ([[DWA]]: ''[[Blind Fury]]'')
== History ==
=== Origins ===
In ancient times, the [[Pythia]] used panoptics placed throughout the city to watch over it. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible (novel)}})


:''Out-of-universe, the name derives from [[Greece|Greek]], meaning "all seeing".''
Over the millennia following the [[anchoring of the thread]], the [[caldera]] was covered up by new buildings until the original location of the [[machine-heart]] was forgotten; ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Book of the War (novel)}}) thus, the [[Obelisk of Rassilon|obelisk]] channeling the power of the [[Eye of Harmony]] became lost beneath the floor of the Panopticon. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Deadly Assassin (TV story)}})
:
:  ''Presumably, due to the name, the [[Panopticon Archive]] is located in the Panoptican.''
:


The Panopticon also refers to the tower in the center of a prison from which the guards can see into all the cells freely at any time. Thus, the prisoners never know when the guards might be looking and must always be on good behavior. In this way the Panopticon represents form of social control.
=== Pre-Time War ===
[[Category:Gallifreyan locations]]
[[The Doctor's early|The young Doctor]] played in the tunnels under the Panopticon. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Order of the Daleks (audio story)|Order of the Daleks]]'')
 
In the [[Fifth Doctor]]'s lifetime, the body of a [[victim (Blood Invocation)|murdered Time Lord]] was found hanging from the [[gantry|gantries]] above the Panopticon, having been left there by a [[vampire (Blood Invocation)|vampire]]. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|Blood Invocation (comic story)}})
 
=== Time War ===
The Panopticon was badly damaged by a [[Dreadshade]] unleashed by [[the Twelve]], however [[Eleventh General|the General]] told the [[Eighth Doctor]] shortly afterwards that work was starting on rebuilding it. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Dreadshade (audio story)|Dreadshade]]'')
 
As acknowledged in the ''[[Dalek Combat Training Manual]]'', ''[[700 Wonders of the Universe]]'' by [[Co-ordinator]] [[Engin]] and ''[[Orcini and the Battle of Vavetron]]'' by [[Commander]] [[Andred]] were available in the [[Panopticon Library]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Dalek Combat Training Manual (reference book)|Dalek Combat Training Manual]]'')
 
In the latter part of the [[Last Great Time War]], when the [[War Doctor]] was thought to have perished using a [[Time Destructor]] to destroy a [[Dalek Fleet]], a [[memorial]] was held for him in the Panopticon. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Innocent (audio story)|The Innocent]]'') When [[The Enigma]] was [[blackmail]]ed into turning its power against the Time Lords, Daleks began appearing in the Panopticon. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Enigma Dimension (audio story)|The Enigma Dimension]]'') In the last days of the conflict, the War Doctor, after discovering the Dalek [[Temporal Cannon]], dramatically materialised in the centre of the Panopticon as a way of quickly getting attention. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Engines of War (novel)|Engines of War]]'')
 
=== Post-Time War ===
When {{Sumpter}} allied himself with the [[Cyberman|Cybermen]], he redecorated the Panopticon with statues of his prior [[incarnation]]s. He later took the [[Twelfth Doctor]] and the [[Twelfth General]] there to access a hidden lift that led to the Eye of Harmony. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Supremacy of the Cybermen (comic story)|Supremacy of the Cybermen]]'')
 
[[File:Rose Tyler and Sarah Jane in the Panopticon.jpg|thumb|[[Rose Tyler]] and [[Sarah Jane Smith]]  meet in the Panopticon. ([[GAME]]: ''[[Lost in Time (video game)|Lost in Time]]'')]]When a temporal crisis made [[TARDIS]]-travel difficult throughout time and space, the Panopticon was one of the [[Waypoint]]s soaked with [[vortex energy]] between which travel was still possible. It was there that the Twelfth Doctor's TARDIS was initially drawn; the Doctor found a cache of [[Kyfred Gem]]s and explained to [[Bill Potts]], as they stood in the Panopticon, that he hoped to toss them through the [[Untempered Schism]] like "skipping stones" to stabilise the [[temporal energy|temporal energies]]. Later, [[K9 Mark IV]], using his [[vortex manipulator circuit]], gathered [[Sarah Jane Smith]] and [[Rose Tyler]] in the Panopticon. They wore [[perception filter]]s to avoid being noticed, but, all the same, decided to head off to somewhere more private to continue their conversation. Meanwhile, Bill returned to the Panopticon where she was met with [[Nardole]], who had thus far stayed in the TARDIS, so discreet that Bill hadn't previously realised Nardole had tagged along on this particular TARDIS trip. ([[GAME]]: ''[[Lost in Time (video game)|Lost in Time]]'')
 
After taking the [[Thirteenth Doctor]] to the ruins of Gallifrey, {{Dhawan}} pointed out the door leading to the remains of the Panopticon, reminiscing about the times he and the Doctor had inside of it. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Timeless Children (TV story)|The Timeless Children]]'')
 
== Other realities ==
In [[Barusa's universe|one]] of the infinite [[parallel universe]]s of "[[Multiverse|possible space]]", ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Fire and Brimstone (comic story)|Fire and Brimstone]]'') the [[Panopticon (Barusa's universe)|Panopticon]] existed in the [[Domed City of Gallifrey]]. It contained [[the Matrix (Barusa's universe)|the Matrix]]. The tradition of an outgoing President gathering other Time Lords there to announce their successor existed there ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Chronicles of Doctor Who? (short story)|The Chronicles of Doctor Who?]]'') as it did in the [[Fourth Doctor]]'s reality. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Deadly Assassin (TV story)|The Deadly Assassin]]'')
 
== Behind the scenes ==
The name {{w|Panopticon}} (derived from [[Greece|Greek]]: "pan" meaning "all" and "Opticon" meaning "view") was coined by Jeremy Bentham for a controversial approach to the way prisons should be designed.
 
[[Category:Capitol locations]]
 
[[pt:Panopticon]]

Latest revision as of 15:16, 16 July 2024

The Panopticon was the main room of the Capitol on Gallifrey. It served as the Time Lords' parliament and seat of State. (PROSE: Engines of War) The Eye of Harmony was secretly kept under the Panopticon. (TV: The Deadly Assassin)

Structure[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Panopticon had six sides, one for each of the Founders of Gallifrey. At every corner of the Panopticon, there were six black statues of the six founders of Time Lord society (Rassilon, Omega, Pandak, the Other, Apeiron and one other, possibly Eutenoyar). Every college (Prydonian Chapter, Arcalian Chapter, Patrex Chapter, Dromeian Chapter, Cerulean Chapter and the Scendeles Chapter) was involved in a competition to build a bigger statue of their founder than the other Chapterhouses, which resulted in the Scendeles Chapter being bankrupted. (PROSE: The Ancestor Cell) When Gallifrey's suns shone on the Panopticon, the interior glowed turquoise. (PROSE: The Tomorrow Windows) The Panopticon's ceiling was so high that clouds formed near it, and sometimes it rained; (PROSE: The Eight Doctors, Warmonger) above it were metallic gantries from which the spires of the rest of the Capitol could be seen. (COMIC: Blood Invocation [+]Loading...["Blood Invocation (comic story)"])

The Twelfth Doctor and Rassilon in the Panopticon. (COMIC: Supremacy of the Cybermen)

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

Origins[[edit] | [edit source]]

In ancient times, the Pythia used panoptics placed throughout the city to watch over it. (PROSE: Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible [+]Loading...["Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible (novel)"])

Over the millennia following the anchoring of the thread, the caldera was covered up by new buildings until the original location of the machine-heart was forgotten; (PROSE: The Book of the War [+]Loading...["The Book of the War (novel)"]) thus, the obelisk channeling the power of the Eye of Harmony became lost beneath the floor of the Panopticon. (TV: The Deadly Assassin [+]Loading...["The Deadly Assassin (TV story)"])

Pre-Time War[[edit] | [edit source]]

The young Doctor played in the tunnels under the Panopticon. (AUDIO: Order of the Daleks)

In the Fifth Doctor's lifetime, the body of a murdered Time Lord was found hanging from the gantries above the Panopticon, having been left there by a vampire. (COMIC: Blood Invocation [+]Loading...["Blood Invocation (comic story)"])

Time War[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Panopticon was badly damaged by a Dreadshade unleashed by the Twelve, however the General told the Eighth Doctor shortly afterwards that work was starting on rebuilding it. (AUDIO: Dreadshade)

As acknowledged in the Dalek Combat Training Manual, 700 Wonders of the Universe by Co-ordinator Engin and Orcini and the Battle of Vavetron by Commander Andred were available in the Panopticon Library. (PROSE: Dalek Combat Training Manual)

In the latter part of the Last Great Time War, when the War Doctor was thought to have perished using a Time Destructor to destroy a Dalek Fleet, a memorial was held for him in the Panopticon. (AUDIO: The Innocent) When The Enigma was blackmailed into turning its power against the Time Lords, Daleks began appearing in the Panopticon. (AUDIO: The Enigma Dimension) In the last days of the conflict, the War Doctor, after discovering the Dalek Temporal Cannon, dramatically materialised in the centre of the Panopticon as a way of quickly getting attention. (PROSE: Engines of War)

Post-Time War[[edit] | [edit source]]

When Rassilon allied himself with the Cybermen, he redecorated the Panopticon with statues of his prior incarnations. He later took the Twelfth Doctor and the Twelfth General there to access a hidden lift that led to the Eye of Harmony. (COMIC: Supremacy of the Cybermen)

Rose Tyler and Sarah Jane Smith meet in the Panopticon. (GAME: Lost in Time)

When a temporal crisis made TARDIS-travel difficult throughout time and space, the Panopticon was one of the Waypoints soaked with vortex energy between which travel was still possible. It was there that the Twelfth Doctor's TARDIS was initially drawn; the Doctor found a cache of Kyfred Gems and explained to Bill Potts, as they stood in the Panopticon, that he hoped to toss them through the Untempered Schism like "skipping stones" to stabilise the temporal energies. Later, K9 Mark IV, using his vortex manipulator circuit, gathered Sarah Jane Smith and Rose Tyler in the Panopticon. They wore perception filters to avoid being noticed, but, all the same, decided to head off to somewhere more private to continue their conversation. Meanwhile, Bill returned to the Panopticon where she was met with Nardole, who had thus far stayed in the TARDIS, so discreet that Bill hadn't previously realised Nardole had tagged along on this particular TARDIS trip. (GAME: Lost in Time)

After taking the Thirteenth Doctor to the ruins of Gallifrey, the Spy Master pointed out the door leading to the remains of the Panopticon, reminiscing about the times he and the Doctor had inside of it. (TV: The Timeless Children)

Other realities[[edit] | [edit source]]

In one of the infinite parallel universes of "possible space", (COMIC: Fire and Brimstone) the Panopticon existed in the Domed City of Gallifrey. It contained the Matrix. The tradition of an outgoing President gathering other Time Lords there to announce their successor existed there (PROSE: The Chronicles of Doctor Who?) as it did in the Fourth Doctor's reality. (TV: The Deadly Assassin)

Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

The name Panopticon (derived from Greek: "pan" meaning "all" and "Opticon" meaning "view") was coined by Jeremy Bentham for a controversial approach to the way prisons should be designed.