tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Wed Jun 11 22:17:54 1997
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Re: Heghbat
On Wed, 11 Jun 1997, KATIE MONCELSI wrote:
|I'm writing a story and it includes the Heghbat (Klingon Suicide)
|ceremony. Does any one here know if the knife and liquid used in this
|has any specific name? Or is the knife just a D'k'taHg (I'm not sure I
|spelled this right) knife.
I think it was a Daqtagh (d'k tahg) that Worf used in the episode "Night
Terrors" but remember this was not the Heghbat (Hegh'bat), just a normal
suicide (as it were) gussied up with a little ceremony. AFAIK, regular
suicide -- or death by your own hand -- is considered dishonorable and
cowardly and leads to Gre'thor. However, assisted suicide (Hegh'bat) or
voluntary execution (Mauk-to'Vor) -- i.e. stoically facing death
unflinchingly at *another's* hand -- is an honorable death permitting one
entrance to Sto'Vo'Kor.
Here are some extracts from my notes (compiled from various sources) that
may be helpful:
Hegh'bat Ceremony Klingon ritualized assisted suicide, literally
translated as "The Time to Die." Klingon tradition held that when a
Klingon was unable to stand and face his enemies, he should chose the
Hegh'bat. The rite called for the eldest son of the celebrant, or a
trusted friend, to deliver a ritual knife to the warrior, who would then
impale himself in the chest. The second would then remove the knife, and
wipe it on his sleeve. (Ethics) The Hegh'bat must be carefully
distinguished from both ordinary non-ritual suicide by one's own hand
(i.e. from frustration or unhappiness with one's fate)--considered a
dishonorable death, leading to Gre'thor--and the Mauk-to'Vor or ritual
murder by the head of one's House--which is considered a honorable
death, leading to Sto'Vo'Kor. (Sons of Mogh)
Following a severe spinal injury in 2368, Lt Worf considered the
Hegh'bat, but was dissuaded from completing the ritual when offered the
alternative of experimental genetronic replication therapy. (Ethics) A
slow, agonizing death due to injuries received in battle has no honor.
One may, therefore, kill a fatally wounded comrade to help him die with
some honor. (The Ship)
Suicide, Klingon Suffering from extreme REM sleep deprivation in 2367 and
depressed at the fear of the unknown ailment and apparent inevitable
death, an unbalanced Lt Worf prepared to kill himself with a boxed,
ceremonial dagger, kept on display with tall vials of liquid and an
ornate round metal plate. He held the knife tip to the plate and poured
one of the liquids down the blade. As he was about to plunge the d'k
tahg into his chest he muttered some Klingon before he was stopped by
Troi. No translation or spelling is available although at least part of
it meant roughly, "Alexander, I hope you will forgive me" (i.e. lujpu'
jiH'e' Alexander "I have failed, Alexander"), a reference to his son.
(Night Terrors)
Mauk-to'Vor a Klingon ritual murder to replace lost honor, performed by
one family member for another (the head of the family?). It requires the
use of a fancy double-bladed mevak dagger and adanji incense. If the
first attempt is unsuccessful, the executioner may use the mevak dagger
to slit the dishonored one's throat. A warrior killed by the Mauk to'Vor
may cross the River of Blood and enter into Sto-Vo-Kor. According to
Klingon tradition, this is considered a private family matter not to be
interfered with, and is not viewed as murder.
Worf performed the Mauk to'Vor on Kurn in his darkened quarters, lit
by many scattered candles. Picking up a small tripod adanji incense
burner, he recites the ritual phrases: "You have been wronged in this
life. There is nothing left here for you. No honor... no future." He
extends the incense to Kurn, who breathes deeply and answers: "I wish to
reclaim my honor in the next life. I am ready to cross the River of
Blood and enter Sto'Vo'kor." Worf picks up the mevak, and holds it up.
"May this blade speed you on your journey." Worf raises the dagger in
both hands above his head as Kurn bares his chest to Worf. "Goodbye,
brother." Kurn raised his eyes to the ceiling, and Worf plunges the
dagger into Kurn's chest. (Sons of Mogh)
Gre'thor in Klingon mythology, the place where the dishonored Klingon
dead go after death. Gre'thor is guarded by the mythic Klingon figure,
Fek'lhr. (Devil's Due). Ordinary non-ritual suicide by one's own hand
(i.e. from frustration or unhappiness with one's fate) is considered a
dishonorable death, causing one to be cast down into "the underworld."
(Sons of Mogh) This is properly spelled ghe''or in tlhIngan Hol.
And here are a few relevant bits on Klingon attitudes to suicide from the
"Klingon Data Base" on MSN's Star Trek Continuum: Klingon Compendium which
were supplied by Paramount:
Hegh'bat
The Klingon ritualistic suicide ceremony is used in cases when an injured
Klingon becomes a burden and cannot hope to live a full life again. A
family member, preferably the first-born son, is to bring the knife and
then attend as the participant first impales himself through the heart and
then wipes the withdrawn weapon's blood on the witness's sleeve. Among the
ceremonial objects used is the Klingon dagger and a special type of cloak.
When hopelessly paralyzed, Lieutenant Worf asked Commander Riker to
assist him in this final act as his best friend, but the appalled Number
One discovered the family connection -- that such a task should fall to
Worf's son, Alexander -- and forced Worf to rethink his plans. (Reference:
Ethics)
Klingons [extract]
They believe that death is an experience best shared and view it as a
joyful time for one who falls in the line of duty and earns a place among
the honored dead, celebrating the release of a dead spirit rather than
grieving over what they consider to be the empty shell of the body. One of
the most honorable deaths is a kamikaze-like suicide that takes an enemy's
life with it. Viewed through their Spartan perspective, illness
(especially terminal) is not honorable; one is not supposed to faint, at
least as an adult, a bias that leads to a lack of both research and
sympathy for such patients; usually cases of paralysis such as Lieutenant
Worf's are left to die -- or to perform the ritual suicide Hegh'bat.
If you have any other questions on Klingon culture, etc, don't hesitate to
ask and I'll see what I have. Be sure to share your story with us when
done. If you're writing it in DIvI' Hol, please send me a copy off-list as
I collect Klingon fan fiction.
-- Voragh