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:"''...and as I watched Worf, It was like looking at a man I had never known.''" <br />
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:"''... and as I watched Worf, it was like looking at a man I had never known.''"
::- '''[[Captain]] [[Jean Luc Picard]]''', "[[Heart of Glory]]", [[2364]]
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::- '''[[Captain]] [[Jean Luc Picard]]''', {{e|Heart of Glory}}, [[2364]]
   
[[Image:KlingonDeathRitual.jpg|thumb|'''Klingon Death Ritual''']]
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[[Image:KlingonDeathRitual.jpg|thumb|The Klingon Death Ritual]]
 
The '''Klingon Death Ritual''' was a [[Klingon]] rite performed during, or directly following, the death of a warrior.
 
The '''Klingon Death Ritual''' was a [[Klingon]] rite performed during, or directly following, the death of a warrior.
   
The Ritual involved opening and staring into the eyes of the dying individual, then howling loudly at the sky. The latter served as a warning to the dead (presumedly in [[Sto-vo-kor]]): "Beware, a Klingon warrior is about to arrive". ({{TNG|Heart of Glory}})
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The Ritual involved opening and staring into the eyes of the dying individual, then howling loudly at the sky. The latter served as a warning to the dead (presumedly in [[Sto-vo-kor]]): "''Beware, a Klingon warrior is about to arrive''". ({{TNG|Heart of Glory}})
   
 
Once the Ritual was completed, the body was unceremoniously discarded. It was considered to be "only an empty shell" which should be treated as such. ({{TNG|Heart of Glory}})
 
Once the Ritual was completed, the body was unceremoniously discarded. It was considered to be "only an empty shell" which should be treated as such. ({{TNG|Heart of Glory}})
   
 
==Instances==
 
==Instances==
 
 
It was extremely rare for non-Klingons to witness the Klingon Death Ritual. The first such case was believed to be in [[2364]] when [[Korris]], [[Konmel]], and [[Worf]] performed the rite, following the death of [[Kunivas]]. Soon after, Worf performed the Ritual for Korris. ({{TNG|Heart of Glory}})
 
It was extremely rare for non-Klingons to witness the Klingon Death Ritual. The first such case was believed to be in [[2364]] when [[Korris]], [[Konmel]], and [[Worf]] performed the rite, following the death of [[Kunivas]]. Soon after, Worf performed the Ritual for Korris. ({{TNG|Heart of Glory}})
   
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==Other Klingon rituals concerning death==
 
==Other Klingon rituals concerning death==
 
 
Funerals were sometimes held for Klingons, such as [[Dax, son of Kang]], who died after being infected with a [[genetic virus]] by [[the Albino]]. The event made a lasting impression on [[Curzon Dax]], as well as [[Jadzia Dax]]. ({{DS9|Blood Oath}})
 
Funerals were sometimes held for Klingons, such as [[Dax, son of Kang]], who died after being infected with a [[genetic virus]] by [[the Albino]]. The event made a lasting impression on [[Curzon Dax]], as well as [[Jadzia Dax]]. ({{DS9|Blood Oath}})
   
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==Apocrypha==
 
==Apocrypha==
 
In ''[[Klingon for the Galactic Traveler]]'', the [[Klingon language]] translation of "death ritual" is given as "Heghtay".
 
In ''[[Klingon for the Galactic Traveler]]'' the [[Klingon language]] translation of "death ritual" is given as "Heghtay".
 
   
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
*[[Funeral]]
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* [[Funeral]]
*[[Bajoran death chant]]
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* [[Bajoran death chant]]
*[[Ferengi death ritual]]
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* [[Ferengi death ritual]]
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[[Category:Ceremonies]]
 
[[Category:Ceremonies]]

Revision as of 22:35, 17 December 2007

"... and as I watched Worf, it was like looking at a man I had never known."
- Captain Jean Luc Picard, "Heart of Glory", 2364
File:KlingonDeathRitual.jpg

The Klingon Death Ritual

The Klingon Death Ritual was a Klingon rite performed during, or directly following, the death of a warrior.

The Ritual involved opening and staring into the eyes of the dying individual, then howling loudly at the sky. The latter served as a warning to the dead (presumedly in Sto-vo-kor): "Beware, a Klingon warrior is about to arrive". (TNG: "Heart of Glory")

Once the Ritual was completed, the body was unceremoniously discarded. It was considered to be "only an empty shell" which should be treated as such. (TNG: "Heart of Glory")

Instances

It was extremely rare for non-Klingons to witness the Klingon Death Ritual. The first such case was believed to be in 2364 when Korris, Konmel, and Worf performed the rite, following the death of Kunivas. Soon after, Worf performed the Ritual for Korris. (TNG: "Heart of Glory")

Worf performed the Ritual again in 2367, following the death of his mate, K'Ehleyr, and in 2374 for his wife, Jadzia Dax. Though, in both cases, Worf did not open the eyes of the fallen warrior. (TNG: "Reunion"; DS9: "Tears of the Prophets")

Worf was last seen performing the Ritual in 2375, after slaying Gowron in personal combat. (DS9: "Tacking Into the Wind")

Other Klingon rituals concerning death

Funerals were sometimes held for Klingons, such as Dax, son of Kang, who died after being infected with a genetic virus by the Albino. The event made a lasting impression on Curzon Dax, as well as Jadzia Dax. (DS9: "Blood Oath")

Ak'voh, the act of watching over a fallen warrior's body, was sometimes performed after or, perhaps, in place of The Klingon Death Ritual. (DS9: "The Ship")

R'uustai, or "The Bonding", is a rite of brotherhood sometimes performed after the death of an individual's parents. (TNG: "The Bonding")

Apocrypha

In Klingon for the Galactic Traveler, the Klingon language translation of "death ritual" is given as "Heghtay".

See also