Initiates

color: The Caste of Initiates handle most religious matters on Gor and interpret the will of the Priest-Kings. Of the five High Castes, the Initiates are the highest in rank.


Scribes

color: blue

The Caste of Scribes are the scholars and clerks of Gor, and their robes are blue, of their Caste color.

Many castes, incidentally, have branches and divisions. Lawyers and Scholars, for example, and Record Keepers, Teachers, Clerks, Historians and Accountants are all Scribes. {Assassin of Gor}


Builders

color: yellow

The Builders of Gor, though not noted much in the texts, are one of the five High Castes of Gor. This meaning they are subject to the knowing of both the Second and First Knowledges. Within the High Castes they seemed to hold quite a high status. While not as 'important' as the Initiates, on the 'tier' of High Castes during council, they were third.
The tier nearest the floor, which denoted some preferential status, the white tier, was occupied by Initiates, Interpreters of the Will of Priest-Kings. In order, the ascending tiers, blue, yellow, green, and red, were occupied by representatives of the Scribes, Builders, Physicians, and Warriors. {Tarnsman of Gor}
Builders were not just builders of cities, of bricks and stones, they were also the inventors of Gor. Some of their inventions included, named in the books, energy bulbs, glazing substances, long glasses (like telescopes), double sided mirrors (where one party saw only their reflection and the other from the other side saw that party) and, in conjunction with Physicians, the slave goad. Builders need be careful with their inventions though. In one passage it was noted how a builder had created a lighted weapon, which, when directed, could blast apart even a large stone. Said Builder was terminated by the Priest Kings for making a device of war.
On the other side of the belt, there hung a slave goad, rather like the tarn goad, except that it is designed to be used as an instrument for the control of human beings rather than tarns. It was, like the tarn goad, developed jointly by the Caste of Physicians and that of the Builders, the Physicians contributing knowledge of the pain fibers of human beings, the networks of nerve endings, and the Builders contributing certain principles and techniques developed in the construction and manufacture of energy bulbs. {Assassin of Gor}
Builders would often incorporate their knowledge with those of the other High Castes, especially Physicians, in developing their inventions.
Similarly men of such castes as the Physicians and Builders make use of the fairs to disseminate and exchange information pertaining to their respective crafts. {Outlaw of Gor}
Also, Builders are noted to be the included within the more knowledgable of the High Castes, along with the Physicians and Scribes. It is noted that while some knowledge may not be known by those in the High Castes, it was hard to hide such knowledge from a Builder.
Even more sophisticated Goreans, however, if not of the Scribes or Builders, have been noted to speculate that lightning is the result of clouds clashing together in the sky, showering sparks, and such. Few people, I suppose, see the unity of such phenomena as lightning and the crackling in the stroked fur of a hunting sleen. {Renegades of Gor, pg 19}
Builders build what they build to last, not only for years, but decades and centuries, making their roads with such precision that they will only wear down with time and weather. They would put much pride into their trade and work, even the lowest of roads, a subsidiary road, was crafted with with lavish and loving care. The roads or streets they built and other such construction at their hands would be not only precise in science but pleasing to the eye, using colors, glazes, paints, or specifically shaped blocks.
The road, like most Gorean roads, was built like a wall in the earth and was intended to last a hundred generations. The Gorean, having little idea of progress in our sense, takes great care in his building and workmanship. What he builds he expects men to use until the storms of time have worn it to dust. Yet this road, for all the loving craft of the Caste of Builders which had been lavished upon it, was only an unpretentious, subsidiary road, hardly wide enough for two carts to pass. {Outlaw of Gor}
When a cylinder was built the color of the Caste that worked upon it would be displayed in the form of a flag. For instance, if the Warrior would do the heavy work and the Builder the design, development, and supervising of a cylinder, both the red and yellow colors would blaze upon the walls of the cylinder for a period of time.
Builders were even noted to be the Administrators (Rulers) of certain Cities.
The new Administrator of Ar was a man named Minus Tentius Hinrabius, an unimportant man except for being of the Hinrabian family, prominent among the Builders, having the major holdings in the vast, walled Hinrabian kilns, where much of Ar痴 brick is produced. {Assassin of Gor}
Both men and women were of the Builder Caste. Oftimes a women would 'raise' her status by becoming the Free Companion of a Man of Higher Caste, thus placing herself in said Caste. Though oftimes the woman would not do the actual building, would not even be initiated into the Caste til having bred at least two children so that her intellect may be passed along.
In taking companionship with one of the Warriors she would raise caste, for the Warriors on Gor are among the high castes, of which there are five, the Initiates, Scribes, Physicians, Builders and Warriors. In many cities only members of the high castes may belong to the city痴 high council. {Slave Girl of Gor}
The women of a given caste, it should be noted, often do not engage in caste work. For example, a woman in the Metalworkers does not, commonly, work at the forge, nor is a woman of the Builders likely to be found supervising the construction of fortifications. {Fighting Slave of Gor}
The color of Builders is yellow. Their 'primitive' symbol is the metal angular square. The Builder would use their symbol by placing it before the Home Stone of their City and praying for the prosperity of their Caste of the coming year.
In Ar, for example, early in the day, a member of the Builders will go to the roof on which the Home Stone is kept and place the primitive symbol of his trade, a metal angle square, before the Stone, praying to the Priest-Kings for the prosperity of his caste in the coming year... {Tarnsman of Gor}


Physicians

color: green
The Caste of Physicians are the healers of Gor; their caste color is green. They believe that age is a disease.
Physicians are one of the more esteemed of the High Castes, their knowledge up there akin to that of the Builders. Often those of the Caste of Physicians work along side one of those of the Caste of Builders to work on inventions. They are often the smartest of the High Castes.



Warriors

color: red
The Caste of Warriors consists of the fighters and protectors of Gorean Homestones. The code of the Warrior is based upon a rudementary chivalry. The Warriors are proud, honorable, and loyal. They carry various weaponry.
"The code of the warrior was, in general, characterized bye a rudementary chivalry, emphasizing loyalty to the Pride Chiefs and the Home Stone. It was harsh, but with a certain gallantry, a sense of humor that I could respect. A man could do worse than live by such a code" {Tarnsman of Gor, Ch 3, ｶ 22, Tarl Cabot}
The warrior wore many different variations of garb. The basic garb could be considered as a tunic, pants, sandals, and cloak.
"...scarlet tunic, sandals, and cloak which constitute the normal garb of a member of the Caste of Warriors." {Outlaw of Gor, Ch 2, pgs 21-22}





Lower Castes

A list of of the lower Castes or Divisions and their colors:


Assassins

color: black
Those of the Assassins are within a caste they may never leave. The assassins are often loners and the only way they may leave their caste is by death. The Caste of Assassins is often noted as the 'hated caste.'
"Little love is lost betwixt the castes of warriors and assassins. Each deems himself the superior of, and the natural foe, of the other. The sword of the warrior, commonly, is pledged to a Home Stone, that of the assassin to gold and the knife." {Beasts of Gor}
"Over his left shoulder, looped on a ringed strap, he wore a blade, the short sword."{Beasts of Gor}
A golden sash or scarf is painted on or tied around the forehead of an assassin, this is the symbol that he is a messenger only, and not to be detained in any way; it is the 'golden slash.' The garb of the Assassin is normally straight black and includes a helmet which is also black.
No one ventured to repel me. All were silent. I wore the garb of the Caste of Assassins, and on the left temple of the black helmet was the golden slash of the messenger. {Tarnsman of Gor}
Assassins, like Warriors, may be tarnsmen or ride tharlarion. They may use such weapons as the crossbow.
There can be such as a 'Master Assassin' who is a leader of Assassins. An Assassin may even become an Ubar (Example Pa-Kur noted in Tarnsman of Gor). Despite the fact that in training they even may kill their own friend to receive acceptance into their Caste, they are known to assemble into a 'horde' of sorts and even celebrate in victory.
Perhaps another odd trait associated to the Assassin may be that in their Caste they too have honor. They kill whom they are paid to kill, it is nothing personal, it is their job. They don't seek out to just kill, kill, kill like many may believe. It is their occupation. Just like any caste or even as on earth, there are always two sides to every stone and there may be those with a dishonorable heart as well as an honorable heart.
Pa-Kur raised his hand with an imperious gesture. From somewhere I saw a small, round object sailing high into the air, out over the river. It was a tarn disc hurled by one of Pa-Kur痴 men. Just as the tiny object, black against the blue sky, reached its apogee, I heard the click of the trigger, the vibration of the string, and the swift hiss of the quarrel. Before the tarn disc could begin its fall, the quarrel pierced it, carrying it, I would judge, some two hundred and fifty yards out into the river. The men of Pa-Kur stamped their feet in the sand and clanged their spears on their shields. {Tarnsman of Gor}
"The training of the assassin is thorough and cruel. He who wears the black of that caste has not won it easily. Candidates for the caste are chosen with great care, and only one in ten, it is said, completes the course of instruction to the satisfaction of the caste masters. It is assumed that failed candidates are slain, if not in the training, for secrets they may have learned. Withdrawal from the caste is not permitted. Training proceeds in pairs, each pair against others. Friendship is encouraged. Then, in the final training, each member of the pair must hunt the other. When one has killed one痴 friend one is then likely to better understand the meaning of the black. When one has killed one痴 friend one is then unlikely to find mercy in his heart for another. One is then alone, with gold and steel." {Beasts of Gor}
The Assassin is even a 'piece' in the game board of Kaissa.


Charcoal Makers

color: black & gray
This caste provides most of the common fuel for the Gorean cities.


Lighter

color: green, white & red


Merchant

color: gold & white
It is said that merchants must keep friends on 'both sides' so that if they lose one customer they still have the other or that if one ruler leaves the throne, they are perhaps friends with an upcoming ruler.
"The fairs incidentally are governed by Merchant Law and supported by booth rents and taxes levied on the items exchanged. The commercial facilities of these fairs, from money changing to general banking, are the finest I know of on Gor, save those in Ar's Street of Coins, and letters of credit are accepted and loans negotiated, though often at usurious rates, with what seems reckless indifference. Yet perhaps this is not so puzzling, for the Gorean cities will, within their own walls, enforce the Merchant Law when pertinent, even against their own citizens. If they did not, of course, the fairs would be closed to the citizens of that city." {Priest Kings of Gor}


Metal Workers

color: steel gray




Musicians

Within the Caste of Musicians, the czehar players have the most prestige, followed by the flutists and the players of the kalika. The players of the drums come next, and the farthest fellow down the list is the man who keeps the bag of miscellaneous instruments, playing them and parceling them out to others as needed. Musicians are never enslaved, but they may be exiled, tortured, or slain. It is said, that he who makes music must, like the tarn and the Vosk gull, be free. (Nomads of Gor, page 154)


Peasant

color: brown


Poets

color: aqua & red
On Gor the singer or poet is regarded as a craftsman who makes strong sayings. He has his role to play in the social structure celebrating battles and histories singing of heroes and cities but also he is expected to sing of living and of love and joy not merely of arms and glory; and too it is his function to remind the Goreans from time to time of loneliness and death lest they should forget that they are men. This Caste is outlawed in Tharna. (Outlaw of Gor, page 103)


Pot Makers

color: brown & green




Saddle Makers

color: tan (leather)




Singers

color: aqua & red
On Gor the singer or poet is regarded as a craftsman who makes strong sayings he has his role to play in the social structure celebrating battles and histories singing of heroes and cities but also he is expected to sing of living and of love and joy not merely of arms and glory; and too it is his function to remind the Goreans from time to time of loneliness and death lest they should forget that they are men. The Caste name is interchangeable with Caste of Poets. (Outlaw of Gor, page 103)


Slaver

color: blue & gold

" Most female slavers, incidentally, are not involved in field captures. It is, one the whole, too dangerous for them. Too, there is always the danger that they might be added to the catch by their men. Most female slavers, accordingly, are established in cities, where they own or manage houses. There they buy and sell slaves, board or rent them, train, them, and so on. Statistically, there are very few female slavers. Most Gorean women tend to be attractive, and most Gorean men tend to be strong, for example. Accordingly, in a business such as slaving it is not unusual that the female slaver sooner or later, in one way or another finds the collar on her own throat. That, then, she then helplessly under the whip like any other female, is that. " {Players of Gor}

Many Slavers think of themselves as an independent caste. Gorean law, however, does not so regard them. The average Gorean thinks of them simply as Slavers, but, if questioned, would unhesitantly rank them with the Merchants. {Assassin of Gor}


Tarn Keepers

color: gray & green


Vintners

color: white with green leaves
of the Caste of Vintners, puffing and bright eyed, wearing a white tunic with a representation in green cloth of leaves about the collar and down the sleeves of the garment, stepped forth from a doorway.
{Assassin of Gor}


Wood Carriers/Woodsmen

color: brown & black
"His stature and burden proclaimed him as a member of the Caste of Carriers of Wood, or Woodsmen, that Gorean caste which, with the Caste of Charcoal Makers, provides most of the common fuel for the Gorean cities." {Outlaw of Gor}





Others

A list of of those outside the castes:


Player

color: green, white & red
The player is one who makes his living as a master of Kaissa, playing for a cup of paga, or perhaps a night's lodging at an Inn. They are not a Caste, but a clan who tend to live apart, their members made up of men from various Castes who often have little in common but fame. {Assassin of Gor, pages 27 and 325}


Outlaw

color: none, no insignias
The outlaw is an outcast on Gor and one without a home stone. Many cities will turn away outlaws. There is an unspoken agreement between the outlaw and the peasant though as one really cannot profit from the other, they generally share as is the way of life to survive. {Outlaw of Gor}


Pirate



Thief