TheMelkurs were living, but often dormant, statues, animated to be the army ofMalador, a being of "pureevil."

As such, "Melkur" became the name inTrakenite culture given to corrupted creatures who were attracted to theplanetTraken, immediately being frozen in stone upon their arrival.

Biology[[edit] |[edit source]]

The Melkurs were created by Malador, their minds extensions of his own, allowing him to see and speak through them, though they still possessed their own intelligence and speech. Given the strength of twenty men, they were indestructible. TheSixth Doctor explained that a Melkur could be thrown into asupernova and come out unscathed. They generated apsychic influence called the "lament of the Melkur," calling out to their kind in search of their master and of evil. The influence was strong enough to pullthe Doctor's TARDIS towards them. (AUDIO:The Guardians of Prophecy)

In culture[[edit] |[edit source]]

The word Melkur literally meant "afly caught byhoney". The Melkurs attracted to Traken became stone, the peaceful atmosphere of the world rendering them immobile and harmless. Most decayed without causing any long-term harm. (TV:The Keeper of Traken)

Traditionally, a feast took place annually, called the Feast of Melkur, at which those attending participated in poetry, music, dance, recitals and performing arts of all varieties and calibres, to ease its passing. (PROSE:The Astronomer's Apprentice)

History[[edit] |[edit source]]

The Melkur were created byMalador in theDark Times as his silent army. After Malador's imprisonment they slept throughout the universe in wait of their master's revival, becoming active when he awoke briefly on the planetSerenity in theBenign Union. (AUDIO:The Guardians of Prophecy)

One Melkur was present atBonjaxx's Bar for his birthday. (COMIC:Party Animals)

Impersonations[[edit] |[edit source]]

The Melkur that seducedKassia was more hostile than previous ones and was revealed, shortly after the arrival of theFourth Doctor andAdric, to bethe Master's TARDIS. TheDecayed Master utilised the Melkur form to becomeKeeper and take control ofthe Source, but was later disconnected. (TV:The Keeper of Traken)

OnEarth, circa 140,000,000 BC,Kalid used theXeraphin to generate the illusion of a Melkur to frightenNyssa andTegan away from the Inner Sanctum, but they ignored it. (TV:Time-Flight)

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

• The walking Melkur statue seen towards the end ofThe Keeper of Traken part one was played byGraham Cole, who also played the Melkur illusion seen inTime-Flight part two. On both occasions, he remained uncredited both on-screen and inRadio Times.
• Geoffrey Beevers was the voice actor for the Melkur inThe Keeper of Traken, and also played theDecayed Master. He was credited on-screen and inRadio Times only as "Melkur" to keep the villain's identity a surprise until parts three and four.