The House of Stroke

The Origin of Gor?
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I find that where someone gets their idea's from to be an interesting subject. What was the source of inspiration for what was to follow? How were those idea's manipulated and changed to fit the authors thoughts? Fact is indeed stranger than fiction and I find that some of Norman's idea's regarding Gor were likely based on one person's thoughts and theories.

Pythagoras was a Greek philosopher and mathematician. Born on the Island of Samos he believed that the universe could be summed up in mathematical terms which resulted in a perfect harmony. Norman refers to Pythagoreans in Tarnsman of Gor.

As he spoke, my father often referred to the planet Gor as the Counter-Earth, taking the name from the writings of the Pythagoreans who had first speculated on the existence of such a body. Oddly enough, one of the expressions in the tongue of Gor for our sun was Lar-Torvis, which means The Central Fire, another Pythagorean expression, except that it had not been, as I understand it, originally used by the Pythagoreans to refer to the sun but to another body. ~ Tarnsman of Gor, Page 28

“That”, he said with animation, “is the Theory of the Sun Shield.” He added, “That is why I like to think of the planet as the Counter-Earth, not only because of its resemblance to our native world, but because, as a matter of fact, it is placed as a counterpoise to the Earth. It has the same plane of orbit and maintains its orbit in such a way as always to keep The Central Fire between it and its planetary sister, our Earth, even though this necessitates occasional adjustments in its speed of revolution.” ~ Tarnsman of Gor, Page 33

The followers of Pythagoras, known as Pythagoreans believed that the number 10 was perfection. Numbers 1 and 2 signified creation and 3 and 4 represented completion. The sum of 1+2+3+4=10. Gor is certainly based on the number 10. 10 hours on the clock, 10 months in the year.

As the above quotes from Tarnsman states, Pythagoras theorized both a counter-earth and the central fire. Pythagoreans believed that there were 10 heavenly bodies. The Sun, the Earth, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the Central Fire (which all else revolved around, including the Sun), and needing one more celestial body to make up a perfect 10 he theorized the counter-Earth which could not be seen due to being on the other side of the Central Fire. By the way, the Central Fire itself could not be seen due to as luck would have it, the earth’s rotation allowed Greece to always face away from the Central Fire, otherwise it’s heat would be overwhelming.

Pythagoras was also seen as a religious leader. He preached a way of life based on his philosophies. It included abstinence in order to attain higher consciousness and a purity of thought. These idea’s may well be responsible for the birth of Gor’s caste of Initiates who also avoid certain foods and had a love of mathematics. His teachings included “the order of nature and the regularity of natural changes”. It is conceivable that this was the wellspring for Norman’s “Natural Order”.

Certainly there are far too many coincidences for it to be considered accidental. The name “Gorean” is then likely to have come directly from those that followed the teachings of Pythagoras (Pythagoreans). Perhaps in the scale of things this means little. But, for those that like to know where their roots are buried this could provide something to think about.

I wish you well,

Stroke




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