Editing Sangheili (section)

==Culture==
[[File:H2A-WeightOfYourHeresy.jpg|thumb|left|300px|An example of Sangheili's mentality of being a superior species; here, [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee defies a Jiralhanae from handling him after a trial.]]
Although Sangheili are naturally very intelligent, their culture's long dependence on a military-industrial schema has led to an emphasis on might over science. In some regards, the advent of the Covenant made this position easier, allowing the Sangheili to concentrate even more monomanically on military endeavors, while Prophets took care of science and technology.{{Ref/Reuse|Bestiarum}} Despite this, their adeptness at using and creating technology is evident. In addition, despite their warrior culture being the most well-known, it has been noted that the Sangheili actually have almost innumerable roles within their society, from political entities like kaidons and keep elders all the way to the more technical artisan-engineers and farmers.{{Ref/Book|OSFM|Page=152}}

Raised from childhood to be warriors, other societal roles are treated as secondary endeavors or even hobbies. Doctors are considered outright dishonorable as they "spill blood" outside the battlefield;{{Ref/Reuse|TCP18}} despite this, the Sangheili are known to employ advanced medical technology{{Ref/Reuse|Bestiarum}} that is superior to humanity's.<ref>'''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''', ''page 131'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Few doctors exist within Sangheili society. Instead, Huragok and other species are employed as medical personnel. Most injuries sustained by the Sangheili can easily be treated by the medical technology employed by the species, otherwise they accept their fate. However, Sangheili hold disdain for using medical technology to treat themselves and some personally would rather suffer through their injury or die. There is evidence of this being overturned, however.{{Ref/Reuse|halo5med}} Some Sangheili recognize that other species do not share the same views on medical treatment and were willing to lend them their medical technologies or even treat the wounded individual themselves.<ref>'''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', ''page 262'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Sangheili are trained to be skilled in most ranged weapons, as well as hand-to-hand combat. A prominent example of this martial focus is that only [[aristocrat]]s are allowed to wield energy swords and that sword-wielders are then no longer eligible for marriage; however, they may breed with any female they choose, married or otherwise, to ensure successful transmission of "swordsman" genes. Many Sangheili children are trained in basic swordsmanship early on, both for personal development and for them to be capable of using a sword later in life if necessary. Within the military, an aristocratic title is not necessary for wielding an energy sword.{{Ref/Book|EVG|Page=63}}<!-- The Essential Visual Guide states that non-aristocratic use of the energy sword is forbidden only within civilian society. This policy is not upheld within the military.-->

Military promotion among the Sangheili is by merit. A Sangheili soldier must succeed to advance among the ranks, with this success being measured in combat kills. A Sangheili near the top of the military hierarchy may have personally slaughtered thousands of individuals to reach that status.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=697 '''Bungie.net''': ''The Covenant Primer'']</ref>

Historically the Sangheili have considered most other species to be inferior to them, both culturally and in fighting skill; this thinking has caused Sangheili to treat other species cruelly and in an arrogant manner. This eventually led to the feud between the Sangheili and [[Jiralhanae]], as the latter's strength threatened the Sangheili's superior military status. In the years following the Great Schism the Sangheili entered a period of cultural renaissance however, triggering a rethinking towards their practices under the Covenant. This included views on medicine,{{Ref/Level|Id=halo5med|H5G|H5G:Alliance|Alliance|Detail=[[Mission Intel|Sangheili Medic's Personal Log]]}} secularism (seen in the war between the theocratic Covenant and secular Swords of Sanghelios), gender roles,{{Ref/Level|Id=halo5sos|H5G|H5G:Swords of Sanghelios|Swords of Sanghelios}} and technology, and there was also evidence to suggest that views on other species underwent a gradual ongoing alteration too. It was noted that an Unggoy was able to take command of Sangheili and lead them in such a way so as to inspire respect and admiration from them.{{Ref/Level|H5G|H5G:Guardians|Guardians|Detail=[[Mission Intel|Sangheili Personal Log 709 1/2]]}} This was unprecedented given the past observed relationship between the two species. The longstanding feud between the Sangheili and Jiralhanae was well documented, but in 2558 Thel 'Vadam engaged in peace talks with a Jiralhanae Chieftain known as [[Lydus]] on Ealen IV. Lydus accused Thel of engaging with the talks so that the Sangheili could simply acquire Jiralhanae resources, however Thel rebutted the notion with the idea that the Sangheili cared for more than just that.{{Ref/Comic|Id=esc3|HE|Issue=3}}

[[File:H5G-Vale&SOSSangheiliStorm.png|thumb|230px|[[Olympia Vale]] conversing with a member of the Swords of Sanghelios.]]
One great indicator of the Sangheili's evolving attitudes towards other species was their interactions with humans in the decade following the end of the Human-Covenant War. During and immediately after the conflict, many Sangheili espoused the Covenant's position towards humans as being heretics, and humans were subject to much of the same cultural arrogance from the Sangheili that the other species received; perhaps worse. Even by 2552, however, a growing number of human sympathizers existed among the Sangheili youth,{{Ref/Site|Id=Coop|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=thesoundofsack|Site=Bungie.net|Page=The Tru7h About Co-Op in Halo 3|D=30|M=01|Y=2021}} and by 2558, the social landscape within the Swords of Sanghelios appeared drastically different with regards to humans. Specific examples include the development of a GEN-2 Mjolnir variant known as [[HELIOSKRILL-class Mjolnir|Helioskrill armor]] by a Sangheili weaponsmith,{{Ref/Reuse|Heloskrill}} training programs involving Spartan-IVs and Swords of Sanghelios troops in the ANVIL Initiative,{{Ref/Site|Id=CFHaveSmoa|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-have-s-moa|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Have S'moa|D=28|M=03|Y=2019}} joint-operations between UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios in the joint-occupation zone against pirate raiders, cooperative weapons and technology research and development (Such as with regards to the Needler{{Ref/Reuse|CatalogBIG}} and the [[ANUBIS-class Mjolnir]] variant's enhanced sensors{{Ref/Game|H5G|Detail=[[ANUBIS-class Mjolnir|Anubis]] helmet description|Quote=The ANUBIS helmet's enhanced sensor suite benefits from collaboration with allied Sangheili, though ONI security paranoia has slowed technology integration.}}) as well as other cooperative endeavors between the two powers (Archivist teams{{Ref/Reuse|CatalogBIG}} and Zeta Halo [[Zeta Halo Project|containment efforts]]{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/catalog-interaction/4c3e1c6f-6519-4ee0-83a4-4bac13bf07a3/posts?page=48|Site=Halo Waypoint Forums|Page=Catalog Interaction|D=13|M=04|Y=2016|LocalArchive=Catalog/Archive/2014#Post_.2312}}). The obvious practical nature of much of these endeavors strongly implies that the Sangheili have come to view humans as a worthy investment, investor and ally, which is in stark contrast to their culture of 10 years past. Even in more remote locations on Sangheili colonies the culture appeared to be undergoing remarkable change. It was noted by [[Olympia Vale]] during her travel to [[Khael'mothka]] that she met many Sangheili who had become tired of the war and who were intrigued by the idea of a human staying with them. There were of course those who would try to harm Vale if they could, however she learned who to stay away from and for the most part found herself in no personal jeopardy.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HitD3|HitD|Chapter=3}}

There were many who refused to change their ways, such as [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]], this was highlighted by the [[Blooding Years|Sangheili civil war]]. Progressive factions in Sangheili society appeared to have won following the emergence of the [[Created]], as Jul 'Mdama's Covenant was entirely wiped out by Swords of Sanghelios forces.{{Ref/Level|H5G|H5G:Battle of Sunaion|Battle of Sunaion}} 

The small minority of Sangheili who joined the [[Banished]] have had their names forever tarnished in Sangheili culture.{{Ref/Reuse|Volir}} Sangheili working for the Jiralhanae was deeply frowned upon,{{Ref/Novel|Id=Envoy3|Env|Chapter=1|Quote=The Covenant had failed, obliterated under the weight of many lies; as a result, the Sangheili did not make common cause with Jiralhanae anymore, at least not as equals. No, this was strange.}} especially after the massacres of the [[Great Schism]].

===Sense of honor===
<choose>
<option>{{Quote|What madness Sangheili honor can be. They should be careful, lest they lose their way.|The [[Prophet of Regret]]{{Ref/Reuse|TCP19}}}}</option>
<option>{{Quote|But you "warriors" have always been guided by… blinded by… the illusion of honor.|[[Atriox]] on Sangheili{{Ref/Reuse|HP}}}}</option></choose>
[[File:Halsey n' John.jpg|thumb|250px|left|[[Major]] [[Thel 'Lodamee]] challenges [[John-117]] to an energy sword duel.]]
The Sangheili display respect and admiration for honorable fighters, whether they are allies of the Sangheili or not; it is not unusual for the Sangheili to have such an admiration for their adversaries. Sangheili respect and revere veterans and often follow their lead. Their history is rife with victorious combatants welcoming the defeated enemies' remaining forces into their own army, provided of course that they fought with honor. During the [[Unggoy Rebellion]], the most tenacious of the Unggoy who survived the conflict were admitted for the first time into previously all-Sangheili forces, much to the Prophets' discontent.{{Ref/Reuse|CH9}}

Despite their intelligence, the Sangheili often allow their obsession with honor to cloud their better judgement. The Sangheili usually employ complex strategy only if it either improves success in battle, allows them to inflict more casualties on their enemies, or if it conforms to their code of honor. Otherwise, in both tactical and strategic combat, Sangheili generally charge their enemies with reckless aggression, regardless of any damage they sustain. Only very seldom do they admit temporary defeat. While lower-ranked Sangheili might make numerous tactical mistakes, especially the Minors, such as standing in the open rather than taking cover, more experienced Sangheili tend to lure their enemies into traps and quickly dispatch them in close combat. Sangheili often sustain heavy casualties in the fervor to kill, though they use their client races to screen and protect themselves. The race's desire for grandeur has led to their defeat in many engagements, such as the [[Battle of Psi Serpentis]], [[Operation: FIRST STRIKE]], and the [[Onyx Conflict]].{{Citation needed}}

One of the clearest examples of how zealous the Sangheili are for honor comes from when [[Thel 'Vadamee]] engaged the [[UNSC]] during his time as [[Supreme Commander]], when Thel and two [[Special Operations Sangheili]] attacked an unarmed [[3rd Battalion Reserves]] during the [[Battle of Camber|assault]] on [[Camber]]. When Thel saw the humans unable to defend themselves, he dropped his {{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}} and activated his [[active camouflage]] so the Marines could gear up and have a chance to fight. This was the first time the humans documented the Sangheili strive for honor, even if it endangered themselves or others.{{Ref/Game|Id=H2AT2|H2A|H2A:Terminals|Terminal 2}}

Conversely, those who favor practicality over religious fervor in combat exhibit keen tactical and strategic acumen.  The [[Zealot]]s, despite being among the most fervent adherents of the Covenant's religion, use shrewd, pragmatic tactics and are willing to engage in subterfuge in lieu of open combat. Similarly, [[Special Operations Sangheili|special operators]] and [[Stealth Sangheili|stealth specialists]] use active camouflage even in combat, though most would prefer to fight outright than to skulk in shadow. The separatist [[Fleet of Retribution]] destroyed the [[Prophet of Truth]]'s [[Truth's fleet|fleet]], despite the latter outnumbering the former three-to-one. Some Sangheili, such as [[Jul 'Mdama]], see honor as more of an aspiration than a way of life and are willing to engage in deception if need be, particularly after seeing humans use such tactics to great effect.{{Citation needed}}

The Sangheili honor code is similar to a few throughout human history,{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.tobiasbuckell.com/halo-envoy-ask-author|Site=Tobias Buckell|Page=Halo: Envoy Ask the Author (spoilers in comments)|D=29|M=6|Y=2017|Quote=I nicked some stuff from various honor codes from all over history. But my favorite chunk of it came from reading about Norse warrior culture. That's where I got the idea for Sangheili having closer uncle/aunt connections.}} sharing concepts such as skill in combat (with an emphasis on swordsmanship), loyalty to master and family/clan, and views on death.  Some such systems promote death in battle as being the most honorable and proper way to die. If a warrior is critically injured, incapacitated, or captured, the only acceptable recourse is to commit ritualistic suicide, ensuring one's honor is kept intact. This is of such importance to Sangheili warriors that even if they are incapable of killing themselves, they may request the assistance of their fellow Sangheili in doing so. The Sangheili consider being captured in combat to be dishonorable. To retain his honor, a valiant Sangheili would typically commit suicide while in prison.{{Ref/Novel|Id=TCP24|TCP|Chapter=24}} Often when imprisoned Sangheili are freed, those who have not killed themselves are executed anyway, as was the case with one of Thel 'Vadam's ancestors. However, escaping or staging an uprising is acceptable, by the same example.{{Ref/Reuse|TCP29}}

===Customs and superstitions===
Despite their martial nature, the Sangheili have reservations to the spilling of one's own [[blood]]. This is an extension of the belief that the blood of a warrior is his essence, which is synonymous with his honor; thus, to spill one's blood is to lose one's honor. As a result, in Sangheili culture, doctors are seen by many as the lowest members of society because they "make [their] living slicing and causing another Sangheili to bleed without honor."{{Ref/Novel|Id=TCP18|TCP|Chapter=18}} This means that the only 'honorable' way for a Sangheili to be injured or bleed out is from combat with the enemy. This belief also makes visiting a doctor very shameful for some Sangheili.{{Citation needed}}

The Sangheili seldom view personal weapons as anything more than tools of war, and rarely attach extra importance to a weapon simply because it once belonged to a great warrior. This was especially true during the Covenant's days, when weapons were mass-produced and warriors did not carry customized weapons. However, certain historical weapons, such as the [[Prophets' Bane|End of Night]], were so famous that they were said to possess a small part of the owner's heart, and were given names as a result.<ref name="waypoint prophets bane">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/weapons/prophets%E2%80%99-bane '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Prophets' Bane'']</ref>

Many Sangheili believe that a weapon is to be drawn only if it is to be used, because a drawn weapon "demands blood."{{Ref/Reuse|TCP18}} However, it appears that the user's intention when it is being drawn matters more than the weapon actually being used. For example, a Sangheili may draw his weapon when he is not sure if an incoming dropship contains friends or foes, only to deactivate it upon seeing friends exit the dropship.{{Ref/Level|H5G|H5G:Guardians|Guardians|Detail=epilogue cinematic}}

As a symbolic gesture of love for his people, a Sangheili leader may choose to walk among his followers and help them in their duties, even doing what is normally considered females' work such as helping them care for eggs. This is also done to inspire the Sangheili to work diligently so as to not be outdone by their superiors.{{Ref/Reuse|BC1}}

In warfare, the Sangheili traditionally upheld a martial tradition known as ''[[Shrwssha'wash]]''; a ritual dismemberment of defeated foes. The tradition is most commonly manifested by the displaying of the enemy's skull as a trophy.{{Ref/Game|Id=Skullbearer|HI|Armor customization (Halo Infinite)|Armor Hall|Detail=Skullbearer Trophy - Shoulder Description|Quote=The Prophets suppressed many Sangheili martial practices they deemed distasteful, including Shrwssha'wash: a tradition of displaying the skulls of particularly recalcitrant foes after their defeat and ritual dismemberment.}}

===Government===
The Sangheili often had no unified government; typically they are splintered into numerous feudal, meritocratic states.{{Ref/Novel|Id=TCP9|TCP|Chapter=9}} A given state is governed by a single clan residence and assembly house known as a [[keep]], headed by a [[kaidon]] selected by a council of [[elder]]s. There are usually a number of "client keeps" belonging to different clans under the leading keep's rule,{{Ref/Reuse|Gla3}} though a state's elders will assume the kaidon's clan name as a title signifying their position, regardless of the name of their own family keep.{{Ref/Reuse|Gla2}} Sanghelios was once governed by the [[Council of City States]] during the early history of the Covenant.{{Ref/Reuse|BC1}} After the fall of the Covenant, the newly restored [[Swords of Sanghelios]] were able to unite many keeps of Sanghelios as a planetary government, though many keeps remain opposed to their rule.

In Sangheili culture, it is customary to settle disagreements with authority by assassination, though one has to use personal weapons in order for the practice to be considered honorable.{{Ref/Reuse|Gla3}} For example, if a council elder believes that his vote was ill-advised or had second thoughts, it is considered a tradition for council elders to initiate some form of attack, such as sending assassins, against the kaidon in order "…to test the true merit of [the] ruler's martial abilities."{{Ref/Reuse|TCP9}} The belief was that "a kaidon who could not defend himself was not a true leader."{{Ref/Reuse|TCP18}} Should the attack fail, the responsible elder will be executed immediately, and his family will be killed. However, punishment for this form of failure was usually flexible. As such, if the elder did something honorable, such as attack the kaidon himself, or attempted to make a final stand against the kaidon, then he would probably have managed to save his family from certain death, although they might still be banished.{{Ref/Reuse|TCP9}}

===Family===
Family history and lineage are greatly valued, with each family having their own unique "battle poem" and "[[saga wall]]" detailing the deeds and actions of its members during times of war.{{Citation needed}}

Although Sangheili society is classified as being patriarchal,{{Ref/Reuse|Bestiarum}} and while most males serve as warriors, female Sangheili hold considerable power in issues within their family keeps, including political matters, civil duties and trade, while Sangheili males are sent into service as warriors. The status quo of gender roles in Sangheili society has lately been challenged however by the Swords of Sanghelios, as Olympia Vale noted after meeting [[Mahkee 'Chava]], a female shipmistress.{{Ref/Reuse|halo5sos}} Sangheili  females have access to records of their own bloodlines, and are able to choose their mates.{{Ref/Reuse|Gla2}} The maintaining of a clan's familial records is typically the duty of the wife of the keep elder.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Gla3|Gla|Chapter=3}} The concept of divorce is completely foreign to Sangheili.<ref name="hitd72">'''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''', ''page 98'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

Sangheili warriors form very close-knitted relationships, referring to their comrades as "brothers" or "sisters" and remaining intensely loyal to them. This loyalty is shown in the custom of grieving after the death of a fallen comrade, a ritual which includes prayer for the dead warrior.

====Children====
Newly hatched Sangheili are called "childlings", and as they grow older, they are then referred to as "younglings".{{Ref/Novel|BC|Chapter=17}} During the first decade of their lives, Sangheili children have protective scales that hang from their necks, an evolutionary holdover from the days when the Sangheili used to carry their offspring with their toothy mandibles away from danger.{{Ref/Reuse|SoI}} Sangheili children are typically raised in the communal environment of their family keep to ensure that all start on an equal footing and progress in rank by merit of their abilities. They are not allowed to know the identity of their true fathers and are usually raised by a maternal uncle instead. This is a method of preventing status from being inherited in order to force children to make their own way in the world so they actively work for and earn advancement,{{Ref/Novel|Id=Gla13|Gla|Chapter=13}} thus minimizing nepotism and promoting loyalty to the whole clan rather than their parents.{{Ref/Reuse|SoI}} However, as some children's fathers are swordsmen who have been granted the right to reproduce with any number of female Sangheili they desire, the use of a maternal uncle as a father-like figure is used to allow children to be raised equally.{{Ref/Reuse|Bestiarum}} Sometimes the individual acting as a Sangheili's "uncle" is in fact the father, but this makes no difference to his role as the child will never know.{{Ref/Novel|BC|Chapter=7}} To help enforce this custom, young Sangheili females may use a device known as a [[trysting pod]] to summon their mates on covert dates, as to keep the secrecy of the father in place.{{Ref/Novel|Id=OC3|HOut|Chapter=3}}

While traditional on Sanghelios, the custom of Sangheili children not knowing their fathers is not followed on all Sangheili-occupied worlds, particularly ones with smaller populations and tighter-knit families such as [[Rahnelo]].{{Ref/Reuse|SoI}} [[Ussan]] Sangheili, who diverged from the mainline Sangheili culture at the dawn of the Covenant, are allowed to know their fathers, presumably because they wanted to be sure who was descended from legendary figures such as [[Ussa 'Xellus]] and [[Ernicka the Scar-Maker]] and to possibly avoid inbreeding given their limited numbers.{{Citation needed}}

Both male and female Sangheili are taught to fight from a young age. Though only males go on to become warriors, it is believed that the females should be able to defend themselves in the event their keep is attacked.{{Ref/Reuse|Gla2}} A popular pastime for Sangheili children is to hunt small rat-like creatures that live on their homeworld.{{Ref/Novel|HTF|Chapter=Prologue}} Young Sangheili also learned and sang old narrative poems, the most famous and widely known being the legendary [[Ballad of Kel 'Darsam|ballad]] of the demigod hero [[Kel 'Darsam]].{{Ref/Reuse|SoI}}

===Language===
{{Main|Sangheili (language)}}
The Sangheili language, which served as a ''lingua franca'' to the Covenant, is rather harsh and guttural to untrained ears. While much remains unknown about its overall structure and conventions, it is known that certain sounds are largely absent from the Sangheili language due to their unique mouth structure; for example, Sangheili have difficulty pronouncing human words containing the letter "v" or ending with "p", resulting in the name "[[Evan Phillips]]" being pronounced as "Efanphilliss"{{Ref/Reuse|Gla1}} (however, there are names in the Sangheili language that use these letters, such as "Vadam" and "Ripa").

Certain Sangheili colloquial terms have been translated by human linguists; the majority of these are derogatory in nature. The word "Jir'a'ul" is a term of abuse for Jiralhanae, being a portmanteau of the name "Jiralhanae" and the word "a'ul," the Sangheili word for a lump of wool.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 24''</ref> The Sangheili often refer to humans using the word "[[nishum]]," which translates roughly to "worm" or "intestinal parasite." The origin of this term lies with the first encounters between Sangheili soldiers and human military personnel. Upon first sighting human infantry, the Sangheili mistook their body armor for an exoskeletal shell. After examining dead human soldiers, the Sangheili discovered the relatively weak, fleshy creatures underneath the "shells" and came to the conclusion that they were some sort of internal parasite. Even long after this misconception faded, the term remained in use among the Sangheili as an unflattering insult to their human enemies.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 79''</ref>

===Naming conventions===
The Sangheili place great value in names and titles, and consider names to be a privilege given only to those who are worthy.{{Citation needed}} The Sangheili generally regard humans as nameless, aside from generic labels, such as the "Demon" moniker for Spartans. They resent that the humans have assigned the label "Elite" to them,{{Ref/Novel|TF|Prologue}} along with many other, far more derogatory names, such as Squid-head, Hinge-head, and Split Lip.{{Citation needed}}

A Sangheili's first name is a given name that is attained at birth and persists throughout their life. After reaching adulthood, they are given a badge name. During the time of the Covenant, this was often composed of two core parts: an adjective describing the individual, and a family name. [[Ado 'Mortumee]] was one practitioner of this system, where 'Mor' was his personal descriptor, and 'Tum' identified his lineage.{{Ref/Book|Id=ENCTS|Enc09|Page=130-131}}  Alternatively, some may have their badge name drawn from their State of origin, which could be tied to a specific Keep or family. For example: Thel 'Vadam, (formerly 'Vadamee when he served the Covenant,) was from the [[Vadam family|Vadam lineage]