Gorean Kef symbol

In the Gor books written by John Norman, Kef is the name of a letter of the fictional Gorean alphabet, which is visually slightly similar to a Latin-alphabet "k". It is commonly used as a symbol for a slave, since it writes the first sound of the Gorean-language words "Kajira" (female slave) and "Kajirus" (male slave). The kef symbol is the most common slave brand on the planet Gor (though other marks are sometimes used). In the case of a female slave, it is most commonly placed high on the side of the left thigh below the hip in a stylized cursive form, called the "common kajira mark", "common slave brand for the Gorean female", or "staff and fronds" -- a "strict" vertical line or bar denoting authority, and to its right two upwards-curling quasi-floral curves which join together near the base of the vertical line to denote vulnerably open femininity in submission to authority, or "beauty under discipline". The whole design is about an inch and a half high and half an inch wide. There are fewer kajiri (male slaves) on Gor than kajirae (female slaves), and male slaves seem to be less often branded, but a simple block script form of the letter kef can be used to designate a male slave.

Both the kajira and kajirus forms of the Kef can be used as artistic symbols (as well as slave brands) on Gor, in which case they are often painted in red (though the kajira kef on the "bill of enslavement" legal document near the end of book 11 "Slave Girl of Gor" is stamped in black ink).

In the picture above, two versions of the kajira kef brand are shown at left, three versions of the "dina" female brand are shown at bottom right, and the kajirus kef (male) brand is shown at top right.

Gorean Kef symbol

See also