Klingon mummification glyph

A Klingon mummification glyph

A Klingon mummification glyph was a form of carved pictograph writing used by the Klingons.

During Spock's memory test in 2286, he was asked to identify a particular symbol, which turned out to be a mummification glyph. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)

Background

The Klingon mummification glyph seen in the fourth movie was identified in the script as coming from the earliest part of the Zanxthkolt Dynasty. The movie was not so specific.

The practice of mummification would seem to indicate that Klingons valued the bodies of their dead at some point, in contradiction to the episode "Heart of Glory"; where the Klingon body was considered a 'empty shell' immediately upon death. It should be noted that this idea was also seemingly contradicted by the practice of ak'voh. However like it 'ak'voh it could represent an ancient and antiquated position that is no longer commonly observed, it might also be possible that only the remains of certain important individuals were preserved. At least the ancient ruler Molor might in fact have been mummified, since some entrepreneurs on Maranga IV claimed to have Molor's mummified head on display for a fee of 50 darseks per person. (TNG: "Firstborn")