Dahak
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Dahak is an evil god in the fictional universe of Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. He seems to be based on the evil demon Azhi Dahaka from Zoroastrian mythology, and on the Judeo-Christian concept of Satan. Dahak might also best be described as an evil perversion on the idea of the Judeo-Christian God with key similarities twisted into polar opposites.
Dahak first appears in the Hercules and Xena universe as a mysterious god worshipped by Celtic Britons, whose worship is interrupted by the invading Romans.[1] He is frequently described as "the one true god" by his followers who will bring his "kingdom to earth", instigating a purification through the "cleansing fires of war" and a "winter of a thousand years". To achieve this Dahak's primary task in the series is to force himself into the world, and destroy the Pantheons of Earth's creator gods by either killing or subverting their members.
In his dark vision for the world the old, sick, lame and weak will be destroyed. It is also Dahak's intention to destroy the One God of the Israelites. Dahak is portrayed as a supreme, irredeemable force of seemingly endless evil of unknowable or uncomprehensible origins. Dahak, whilst inhabiting the body of Iolaus, credits himself with being known to turn entire oceans into barren and lifeless deserts.
Dahak's cult has a mysteriously powerful following as he appears able to subvert and control humans through the dark allure of his deceptive teachings, which are described as "pure". In the world of Dahak everyone, from peasant to warlord, has their place in his grand plan.
Dahak, like the One God of the Israelites, seeks to bring a child of his into the world. In order to achieve this he impregnates the companion of Xena, Gabrielle, with his dark seed - Hope.[1] Hope, aside from being the daughter of Dahak, is actually an incarnation of his will. This is proven by her reoccurring lines ("You can't stop the will of Dahak"; "We're too close to fulfilling my father's will to stop now".) Hope, by Dahak's plan, will in turn give birth to evil creatures called The Destroyers, whose prime function in the evil plan of Dahak is to destroy the righteous and the good, feasting upon their flesh and revelling in their destruction.[2] Dahak enlists Ares to father The Destroyers,[3] but because of Xena and Gabrielle's actions, Hope and Dahak's plans are cut short and only one Destroyer is born.[2]
The machinations of the followers of Dahak bring him/it into frequent conflict with Xena, Hercules, and their respective allies -- all of whom quickly become the primary obstacles keeping Dahak from being granted entry to the world. The gods themselves are paralyzed with fear and indecision, or else murdered outright -- as in the case of the Sumerian Pantheon -- when confronted by the malevolent power of the usurper.
Dahak's final defeat is at the hands of Hercules and Iolaus. Hercules tells Dahak, who has possessed Iolaus' body that his friendship with Iolaus is one of the best things that he was blessed with.[4] This moral sentiment upsets Dahak and weakens him enough for Iolaus to call out to Hercules from the spiritual realm Dahak has him trapped in. Hercules touches Iolaus' hand and is sucked into the spiritual realm where he sees his long dead friend. Dahak appears there too in his true form: A huge ugly monster. Hercules and Iolaus battle Dahak and send him into a fiery pit. This final act is said to have killed Dahak, but since darkness is a part of every human heart, it's debated whether or not Dahak can truly die.[5] Dahak appears to Hercules in a dream telling him that he is "the darkness that you hold closet to your heart."
There are some contradictions within the series regarding Dahak. The chief druid tells Hercules that he is a creature from beyond this world implying he is from a different world or dimension. Yet Dahak's recounting as well as that of the Titans suggests that he is a manifestation of the darkness within the world which would indicate he is native to this world.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "The Deliverer". Xena: Warrior Princess. 1997-10-20.
- ^ a b "A Family Affair". Xena: Warrior Princess. 1998-10-12.
- ^ "Sacrifice, Part 1". Xena: Warrior Princess. 1998-05-04.
- ^ "Redemption". Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. 1999-01-18.
- ^ "Faith". Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. 1998-09-28.
