Money, Measurements & Time
Coinage:
tarsk bit:
a copper coin worth from 1/10 to 1/4 of a copper tarsk, depending on the city
which mints the coin.
tarsk, copper:
worth between 4 and 10 tarsk bits depending on location. 100 tarsk bits make up
a silver tarsk, and equaling 10 tarsk bits.
tarsk,
silver:
worth 40 copper tarn disks or 100 copper tarsks. 10 silver tarsks make a gold
tarn.
Tarn Disk,
Copper:
1/40 of a silver tarsk.
Tarn Disk, Gold: worth 10 silver tarsks, also comes in double weight. With the exception of the double tarn, a gold tarn disk is the highest value coin on Gor.
Tarn Disk, Silver: worth more than a silver tarsk, they don't state an exact amount.
Measurements:
ah-il: a unit of measure equal to the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, c. 18 inches, analogous to the Earth cubit; 10 ah-il equal one ah-ral.
"Cloth is measured in the ah-il, which is the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, and the ah-rah, which is ten ah-ils." Tribesmen of Gor, page 50
ah-ral:
a unit of measure equaling 10 ah-il, or approx. 180 Earth inches.
foot:
a unit of measurement equal to 10 horts, or 12 1/2 Earth inches.
"The Gorean foot is, in my estimation, just slightly longer than the Earth foot;
based on the supposition that each of its ten Horts is roughly one and
one-quarter inches long, I would give the Gorean foot a length of roughly twelve
and one-half inches, Earth measure". Raiders of Gor, page 127
hort:
a measure of distance equal to 1- 1/4 inches
huda:
a unit of measure equaling 5 tefa
"A handful with the five fingers closed, not open, is a tef. Six such handfuls
constitutes a tefa, which is a tiny basket. Five such baskets constitutes a huda."
Tribesmen of Gor, page 46
pasang:
measure of distance equaling .7 miles
"The pasang is a measure of distance on Gor, equivalent approximately to .7 of a
mile."
Tarnsman of Gor, page 58
stone:
a unit of measurement equal to 4 Urth pounds
"I have calculated this figure from the Weight, a Gorean unit of measurement
based on the Stone, which is about four Earth pounds." Raiders of Gor, page 127
talu:
a unit a measure equaling 2 gallons
"A talu is approximately two gallons. A talu bag is a small bag."
Tribesmen of Gor, page 242
Time:
Ihn: Gorean Second; equals 1.35 Earth seconds
Earth days:
5 days per week x five weeks, + 1 passing hand=30 days; x 12
months=300 days + one waiting hand= 365 days.
Gorean Calendar:
Month of EN'KARA Month of HESIUS (Ar)
Month of CAMERIUS (Ar) Month of EN`VAR
Fifth Month
Sixth Month
Month of SE'KARA Eighth Month
Ninth /month
Month of SE`VAR
Eleventh Month
Twelfth Month
tef:
a unit of measure, consisting of a handful of whatever produce (such as dates)
is being weighed; 6 tefs equal one tefa.
tefa:
1) a unit of measure equaling 6 tefs, or handfuls; 5 tefas equal 1 huda; 2) a
small basket.
weight:
a unit of measurement equal to 10 Stone, or 40 Earth pounds.
"I have calculated this figure from the Weight, a Gorean unit of measurement
based on the Stone, which is about four Earth pounds."
Raiders of Gor, page 12
Ehn:
Gorean Minute (80 Ihn); equals 108 Earth seconds
Ahn:
Gorean Hour (40 Ehn); equals 72 Earth minutes
Ohn:
Gorean Day (20 Ahn); equals 24 Earth hours
Uhn:
Gorean Week (5 Ohn); equals 7 Earth days
Yhn:
Gorean Month (5 Uhn); equals 30 Earth days
Pahn:
Gorean Year (10 Yhn); equals 12 Earth months
But remember the actual Gorean year only has 300 days, the other 65 days are in
passing and waiting hands.
Gorean days:
5 days per week x five weeks=25 days; 25 days x 12 months=300
Gorean days
(The First Turning)
First Hand:
March 21-March 25
Second Hand:
March 26-March 30
Third Hand:
March 31-April 4
Forth Hand:
April 5-April 9
Fifth Hand:
April 10-April 14
First Passage Hand:
April 15-April 19
First Hand:
April 20-April 24
Second Hand:
April 25-April 29
Third Hand:
April 30-May 4
Forth Hand:
May 5-May 9
Fifth Hand:
May 10-May 14
Second Passage Hand:
May 15-May 19
SELNAR (Ko-ro-ba)
First Hand:
May 20-May 24
Second Hand:
May 25-May 29
Third Hand:
May 30-June 3
Forth Hand:
June 4-June 8
Fifth Hand:
June 9-June 13
Third Passage Hand:
June 14-June 18
(The First Resting)
First Hand:
June 19-June 23
Second Hand:
June 24-June 28
Third Hand:
June 29-July 3
Forth Hand:
July 4-July 8
Fifth Hand:
July 9-July 13
Forth Passage Hand:
July 14-July 18
First Hand:
July 19-July 23
Second Hand:
July 24-July 28
Third Hand:
July 29-August 2
Forth Hand:
August 3-August 7
Fifth Hand:
August 8-August 12
Fifth Passage Hand:
August 13-August 17
First Hand:
August 18-August 22
Second Hand:
August 23-August 27
Third Hand:
August 28-September 1
Forth Hand:
September 2-September 6
Fifth Hand:
September 7-September 11
Sixth Passage Hand:
September 12-September 16
(The Second Turning)
First Hand:
September 17-September 21
Second Hand:
September 22-September 26
Third Hand:
September 27-October 1
Forth Hand:
October 2-October 6
Fifth Hand:
October 7-October 11
Seventh Passage Hand:
October 12-October 16
First Hand:
October 17-October 21
Second Hand:
October 22-October 26
Third Hand:
October 27-October 31
Forth Hand:
November 1-November 5
Fifth Hand:
November 6-November 10
Eighth Passage Hand:
November 11-November 15
First Hand:
November 16-November 20
Second Hand:
November 21-November 25
Third Hand:
November 26- November 30
Forth Hand:
December 1-December 5
Fifth Hand:
December 6-December 10
Ninth Passage Hand:
December 11-December 15
(The Second Resting)
First Hand:
December 16-December 20
Second Hand:
December 21-December 25
Third Hand:
December 26-December 30
Forth Hand:
December 31-January 4
Fifth Hand:
January 5-Jaunuary 9
Tenth Passage Hand:
January 10-January 14
First Hand:
January 15-January 19
Second Hand:
January 20-January 24
Third Hand:
January 25-January 29
Forth Hand:
January 30-February 3
Fifth Hand:
February 4-February 8
Eleventh Passage Hand:
February 9-February 13
First Hand:
February 14-February 18
Second Hand:
February 19-February 23
Third Hand:
February 24-February 28
Forth Hand:
March 1-March 5
Fifth Hand:
March 6-March 10
Twelfth Passage Hand:
March 11-March 15
The Waiting Hand
Gorean Holidays and Festivals:
Gorean New Year: On the day of the Vernal equinox (March 21), many northern Gorean
cities, including Ar, celebrate the Gorean New Year. Typically upon this day a
celebration takes place, doors are painted green, and a city-wide festival is
held, lasting for two full Gorean hands (ten days). Every fourth year the New
Year is celebrated on the extra day which occurs between the Waiting Hand and
the day of the equinox.
Sardar Fairs: The Gorean equivalent of the World's Fair on Earth, these are
four huge trade fairs which are held quarterly in the shadow of the Sardar
Mountain Range. Each young person of Gor is expected to make a pilgrimage to the
foot of the Sardar
Mountains before he or she reaches their 25th birthday. They typically last ten
full days (plus at least that long for set up and break down) and are scheduled
to coincide with the solstices and equinoxes. Therefore, the four annual Fairs
are:
The Fair of En'Kara (March 21st-March 30th)
The Fair of En`Var (June 19th-June 28th)
The Fair of Se`Kara (September 22nd-October 1st)
The Fair of Se`Var (December 21st-December 30th)
The Planting Feast of Sa-Tarna: A complex feast celebrated by most
Gorean cities early during the growing season, and believed by many to ensure a
plentiful harvest for the year ahead. Numerous rituals are performed during the
three days of the feast (April 16th-18th) by members of the caste of Initiates,
and members of each of the five high castes perform their own part of the
ceremony during that three-day period. Most of these rituals consist of
sacrifices or prayers to the Priest Kings conducted in the presence of the city
Home Stone. On the final eve of the feast, the Home Stone is placed beneath the
sky, typically atop the tallest cylinder in the city, and sprinkled with sa-tarna grain and ka-la-na wine by a dignitary of the city, often the
Administrator, Ubar, or a member of the ruling family.
The Return to Turia:
The last day of the Second Hand of En'Kara (March 30th) is
traditionally the day which marks the beginning of The Season of Little Grass
for the Wagon Peoples, and shortly thereafter they begin the long trek from
their winter pastures back to Turia.
Games of Love War: The Wagon Peoples compete against the Warriors of Turia on the
Plain of Stakes during the Second Passage Hand (May 15th-19th) in mid-spring,
participating in various challenges and ceremonial-combats in order to exchange
freewoman for slaves.
Taking fo the Omens: Every tenth
year, dating from 10,119 CA (1969 AD), is considered by the Wagon Peoples to be
an "Omen Year." Therefore, in 10,129 CA (1979 AD) and in 10,139 CA (1989 AD),
the Wagon Peoples halted their annual trek past Turia
and various Omens were divined by their haruspexes regarding the future of the
tribes and the safety of the bosk. This ceremony typically occurs in late
spring, sometime during the month of Camerius. The next such Omen Year will be
10,149 CA (1999 AD).
Turian New Year:
The peoples of Turia and certain other southern regions
officially celebrate their own new year on the day of the Summer Solstice (June
21st). A ten day period of revelry follows, similar to the New Year celebrations
in northern cities.
Kajuralia:
"The Festival of Slaves", it is held in most Gorean cities (except Port Kar,
where it is not celebrated at all) on the last day of the Twelfth Passage Hand
(March 15th). In Ar, it is celebrated on the last day of the fifth month (August
12th), the day which precedes the Love Feast. Upon this day, slaves may take
liberties which are otherwise not permitted them during the year, including the
drinking of wine and liquor, the freedom to roam at will (provided of course
they do not attempt to escape from their owners permanently), the freedom to
choose their own sexual partners and to couch with slaves of the opposite sex
whom they find attractive, temporary suspension of all work and duties, and even
the opportunity to play (minor) tricks and practical jokes upon freepersons.
After the twentieth ahn, however, they are expected to be back in their
respective kennels and slave quarters to resume the services required by their
imbonded status; slaves who "go renegade" during Kajuralia are typically
punished severely if recaptured, and are often executed for such an offense.
Love feast: Five day
celebration within Ar, held during the Fifth Passage
Hand (August 13th-17th). It is a time wherein many slaves are sold; the fourth
day of the Love Feast (August 16th) is typically considered the climax of the
festival in regard to the sale of slaves. The fifth day (August 17th) is
normally reserved for great contests and spectacles in the Stadium of Blades,
grand races in the Stadium of Tarns, great Kaissa championships and general
celebratory feasting.
The Passing of Turia: The herds of the Wagon peoples traditionally pass closest to the
city of Turia on or around the Second Hand of Se`Kara (September 22nd-26th).
Festival of the 25th of Se'kara: An annual Festival held in Port Kar to celebrate their great
naval victory over the combined fleets of Cos and Tyros (October 11th).
The
Thing:
An annual celebration held in Torvaldsland, during which all of
the shieldmen of the various Great Jarls travel to the Hall of their particular
leader, submit their weaponry for inspection, and formally repledge their oaths
of loyalty. The Thing usually occupies a span of from three to five days, and
occurs sometime during the middle of the ninth Gorean month (mid-November),
varying according to such factors as weather and the current political
situation.
The Wintering: The nomadic
herds of the Wagon peoples typically occupy their winter pastures during the
period from the middle of the ninth Gorean month (late November) through the
Second Hand of En'Kara (late March).
New Year: Wagon Peoples:
The day of the Winter Solstice (December 21st) is celebrated by
the Wagon Peoples as the first day of the new year, and marks the beginning of
The Season of Snows. In addition, the women of the Wagon Peoples keep a calendar
of their own, based upon the phases of the largest of the three Gorean moons. It
consists of fifteen separate divisions, each named after one of the fifteen
different kinds of bosk, for instance: "The Moon of the Brown Bosk", "The Moon
of the Spotted Bosk", etc.
Carnivals:
Held in many southern cities, notably Port Kar, during the five days of the
Twelfth Passage Hand (March 11th-15th). During this celebration it is often
customary to garb oneself in outlandish costumes or masks and attend various
masquerade fetes and feasts.
The Waiting Hand: This is a five day period (March 16th-20th) during which doors
are painted white, little food is eaten, little is drunk and there is no singing
or public rejoicing in the city. Walls and doors are adorned with sprigs and
branches from the brak bush to ward off ill-luck in the coming year. On the day
of the Vernal equinox, the Ubar or Administrator of the city performs a ritual
"greeting of the sun," after which doors are repainted and the brak foliage is
removed, beginning a ten day period of general revelry.
Feast of Fools:
This is a Festival celebrated in some Gorean cities on the last day
of the Third Hand of the eighth Gorean month (October 31st). It is similar in
many respects to the southern Festival known as Carnival, except it lasts only
for the period of one night. Also known as the "Festival of the Cities of Dust,"
in homage to the spirits of the deceased who died during the last year..
References:
The above is courtesy of Central Fire thanks to that resource site