Battlestar Cylon, Top Lesser Known Facts

Here are some lesser known facts about the Cylon Race in the Galactica series:

1. Origin of the word Cylon
   In line with the Greek historical and mythological associations of the series the word Cylon (also spelt Kylon from the greek Κύλων) is a reference to an Athenian who was associated with the first dated event in Athenian history, the Cylonian affair. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylon_of_Athens
   
2. There are 4 Types of Cylons
   
   Centurion
   This is thought to be an entirely mechanical unit, heavily armed and armoured and seemingly intentionally less intelligent than the other types, relying on programming from the Hybrids to function. Unlike the original series these do not have the ability to speak. There is some ambiguity as to whether they may be in fact partially biological.
   
   Raider
   This is the biomechanical Cylon in the form of a spacecraft. Like the humanoid Cylons they are also resurrected in the hub after they die. The episode Scar showed at least one raider of the same name exhibiting personality traits.
   
   Humanoid
   According to the writer Ronald D. Moore there are 12 types, of which 5 were kept secret from the others. They are supposed to represent the typical human Archetypes and are the controlling class of Cylon. While present later on in the original series, they have become the main plot line in the new series.
   
   Hybrid
   Have a human appearance but are more akin to cyborgs as some body parts are mechanical conduits which interface with and control the base stars. After the centurions and the raiders this is seen as the next incarnation prior to the predominantly biological Humanoids.
   
3. The Achilles Heel
   While physically superior to humans the Cylons are in fact prone to an ancient virus called lymphocytic encephalitis. This can be transmitted to other Cylons with the exception of Centurions (mechanical), which become affected when a Hybrid contracts the Virus.
   
4. Cylon Religion
   The Cylons practice a Monotheistic religion which is essentially a fanatical belief in one god. It is this fanaticism which leads to the genocide of the Human Race at the beginning of the mini series. Some Cylons believe that the gibberish spoken by hyprids is in fact the God talking directly through them.