One of the most important aspects which Gorean culture and
civilization is based upon is that of caste. Simply put, this
means that each person is born into a place, or station in life,
and knows absolutely thier position in the social hierarchy
thereby. While it is not impossible to move from one caste to
another, it is very uncommon, because the Gorean is not only
accepting of thier caste, but extremely proud of it, knowing that
no matter how menial or exalted it may appear, each of the castes
performs a critical function in society, without which that
society would be in danger of collapse.

In ircGor, many select a caste to claim as thier own. Obviously on
Earth, there is no such caste system in place, but we can find
analogies for ircGor which match our real life positions. For
instance, one who works in a retail store might claim to be of the
Merchants, while another who is a paramedic will claim to be of
the Physicians, or one who is in the military, call the caste of
the Warriors, his own.

All Goreans have a caste, based on birth and profession, except
for four groups; Priest-Kings, outlaws, slaves, and Dar-Kosis
victims (Gor's version of lepers). Priest-Kings are considered
above the caste system, outlaws and slaves are considered beneath
the caste system, and Dar-Kosis victims are considered completely
outside of it.

Book One, page 42
There are five High Castes, a representitive of each sits on the
Council of each City. There are numerous Lower Castes, thier
precise ranking between them has never been completely clear, and
certain varies not only from City to City, but in various times
as well, as one caste might increase in prominence.

In most Cities, the Five High Castes, the Council, elect one person
to be Administrator of the City. In war-time, the Council will
elect an Ubar, or War-Chief, to lead them. The Ubar (or Ubara if
a woman) has absolute dictatorial control of the City.

Here follows a short list of the Gorean castes, the colours which
are associated with each, and the comparative social ranking;

High Castes
Rank-Caste-Colours

1 Initiates White
2 Scribes Blue
3 Builders Yellow
4 Physicians Green
5 Warriors Red

Low Castes *
Rank-Caste-Colours

1 Assassin Black
2 Slavers Blue/Yellow
3 Merchants Gold/White
4 Wood Carriers Brown/Black
5 Charcoal Makers Black/Grey
6 Tarn Keepers Grey/Green
7 Poets Aqua/Red
8 Singers Aqua/Red
9 Pot Makers Brown/Green
10 Saddle Makers Tan
11 Metal Workers Steel Grey
12 Lamp Lighter Striped Green/White/Red
13 Players Checkered Red/Yellow
14 Peasants Brown


* Note that this list is by no means inclusive, nor are the ranks
a wholly accurate listing. There are many more castes, and the
only ones generally accepted as the listed ranking are that the
Assassins are the top ranked Lower Caste (due in large part to
fear which is associated with them) followed by the Slavers and
and the Merchants. The Peasants are considered the lowest ranked
caste, a fact which they are inordinately proud of, as they
consider themselves to be "Ox upon which the Homestone rests",
knowing full well that without them, Gorean society collapses.

Understand that these castes and their social rankings are a matter
of great import to the Gorean, frequently the centerpiece for
political activism or intrigue as one caste strives for prominence
over another, or a sub-group within a caste agitates for it's
recognition as an independant caste, able to make it's own rules
and guidelines. In this latter case, usually primary controlling
group within a caste does not wish to let the sub-group leave,
simply because the more people it governs, the more powerful and
prestigious the caste is (the exception to this is that of the the
largest caste, the Peasants).