Sangheili mythology

Sangheili mythology refers to the collection of ancient beliefs among the Sangheili that they looked to in order to explain their world. These legends and religious views were varied and often attributed supernatural elements to natural objects. Both heavenly bodies and Forerunner relics were the focus of much of the mythologizing that was done.

Divine pantheon

Ancient Sangheili worshipped a large pantheon of gods, of which the chief was Urs, Sanghelios' largest sun. It can be assumed that Fied and Joori were seen as deities in kind, and possibly even Suban and Qikost as well. It was believed that the gods could visit mortals and even produce offspring by them. One such demigod in legend was Kel 'Darsam, the son of Urs and a Sangheili female. Along with gods and demigods, there were also lesser spirits that were believed in. One such was Ziggur, who was associated with nature.

It is also known that Forerunner relics found on Sanghelios were greatly revered, though to what extent the exultation of their creators was as distinct beings from Urs and others like him is unclear. When the Guardian buried under the Csurdon Sea was discovered, elders built stone fortresses along the coastline of Nuusra to watch over both it it the multiple support stations left behind in the region. Even though the elders did not know the true purpose of the Guardian or support stations in Nuusra's cliffs, they treated them as sacred, believing that gods had intentionally buried the Guardian with no intention of ever having it awaken. To disturb its rest would be considered heresy my the majority of Sanghelios, just as tampering with any Forerunner technology was. Centuries after the discovery of the Guardian, Sunaion, or the Westward Temple of the Sea, was built to safeguard the demon beneath the waves, called the "Leevrukah". One extant fundamentalist religious sect that still clings to many vestiges of pre-Covenant Forerunner worship on Sanghelios is "Neru po Odosima", or the Servants of the Abiding Truth.

Mythical creatures

Much of Sangheili mythology dealt with explaining natural phenomena or geological formations through the agency of not only gods, but terrible monsters as well. For example, the infamously deadly currents between the grouping of islands named Dur'at'dur were believed to be caused by the endless thrashing of nine serpents. According to legend, Kel 'Darsam slew the serpents, despite the fact that the currents continued. Among Kel 'Darsam's other kills numbered the Sand Dwellers of Il'ik and the the many-mouth Watcher of the Lonely Harbor.