The Jaffa are a fictional alien race, in the television series Stargate SG-1. They are a mutation of humanity, descended from genetically modified people from Earth who were kidnapped by the Goa'uld using the Stargate during antiquity. They were modified to serve as warriors and incubators for larval Goa'uld. Dakaras central Temple Dakara is a planet in the fictional Stargate universe of the science fiction series Stargate SG-1. ... In the fictional Stargate universe, the Jaffa High Council is the ruling body of the Free Jaffa Nation. ... The Tauri [tɔːɹi] (sometimes spelt Tauri, and often spoken as People of the Tauri) is a widespread term used to refer to humans of Earth by many alien races in the science fiction universe Stargate SG-1. ... The Tokra are a fictional race on the television series Stargate SG-1. ... The Goauld (pronounced go-a-OOLD , commonly GOOLD, or go-OOLD) are a fictional parasitic alien race in the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1 universe. ... Stargate is a science fiction/action film released in 1994, directed by Roland Emmerich and written by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich, with a soundtrack by David Arnold. ... Stargate SG-1 (often abbreviated as SG-1) is a science fiction television program part of the Stargate franchise. ... The Goauld (pronounced go-a-OOLD , commonly GOOLD, or go-OOLD) are a fictional parasitic alien race in the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1 universe. ... A typical depiction of a Stargate. ...

Background

Jaffa live on several different planets, depending on which Goa'uld they serve, so they have no one "homeworld" (as they were originally human slaves from Earth). However, planets with large concentrations of Jaffa include Chulak, Dakara, and Delmak; with Dakara claimed as the site of the original genetic modification. In Stargate SG-1, a television series based upon the 1994 science fiction movie Stargate, Chulak is a fictional planet orbiting a binary star system. ... Dakaras central Temple Dakara is a planet in the fictional Stargate universe of the science fiction series Stargate SG-1. ... Diagram of how Stargate addresses correspond to seven points in space from which a destination and journey can be extrapolated. ...

The main function of the Jaffa is to serve their gods, the Goa'uld, as warriors and incubators for Goa'uld larvae. The Jaffa are genetically engineered so that their immune system will fail when they reach puberty (which they call the age of prim'tah), so they will die if they do not receive a symbiote. An immature Goa'uld larva is then implanted in a marsupial-like pouch in the Jaffa abdomen, in which it grows to maturity before implantation in a host. Due to the symbiote Jaffa require no sleep; only when tretonin is used instead of a symbiote does a Jaffa require sleep. The Goauld (pronounced go-a-OOLD , commonly GOOLD, or go-OOLD) are a fictional parasitic alien race in the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1 universe. ... A larva (Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of animal with indirect development, undergoing metamorphosis (for example, insects or amphibians). ... Orders Didelphimorphia Paucituberculata Microbiotheria Dasyuromorphia Peramelemorphia Notoryctemorphia Diprotodontia Marsupials are mammals in which the female typically has a pouch (called the marsupium, from which the name Marsupial derives) in which it rears its young through early infancy. ...

The presence of the larva replaces the Jaffa's immune system, and after receiving a Goa'uld larva a Jaffa is unable to live for long without one. Additionally, the Jaffa needs to engage in a form of meditation known as Kel no'reem on regular intervals in order to synchronise with the symbiote. If Kel no'reem is not performed, the Jaffa might become seriously ill. Kel no'reem effectively replaces sleep for a Jaffa. In exchange, the Goa'uld offers strength, health, and a long life (120-150 years). Following the discovery of Egeria, the drug Tretonin was developed to allow the former Jaffa host to survive without a larva. A scanning electron microscope image of a single lymphocyte, a component of the human immune system A poop system is a collection of mechanisms within an organism that protect against infection by identifying and killing pathogens. ... The Goauld language is a fictional language spoken by the Goauld and Jaffa from the television series Stargate SG-1. ... Sleep is the state of natural rest observed in most mammals, birds, fish, as well as invertebrates such as the fruitfly Drosophila. ... The Tokra are fictional characters in the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1. ... Tretonin is a fictional drug in the television series Stargate SG-1, extracted from Goauld symbiotes. ...

All Jaffa formerly in service to the System Lords have a brand on their foreheads bearing the insignia of the Goa'uld they serve. In most cases it is just a black tattoo, but in the case of each System Lord's First Prime (chief warrior and commander), it is a raised mark, made with a special knife and filled with pure molten gold in what even Teal'c says is a very painful process. Other high-ranking Jaffa bear a similar, silver mark. The Goauld (pronounced go-a-OOLD , commonly GOOLD, or go-OOLD) are a fictional parasitic alien race in the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1 universe. ... A tattoo is a mark made by inserting pigment into the skin; in technical terms, tattooing is dermal pigmentation. ... The System Lord Ra The System Lord Apophis The System Lord Anubis The System Lord Baal See Stargate for more information on this fictional universe. ... In the science-fiction TV series Stargate SG-1, First Prime is the title of the Jaffa who is the chief warrior and military commander of a GoauldSystem Lord. ...

A faction of the Jaffa that identified the Goa'uld as false gods went into hiding thousands of years ago, and became known as the Legendary Sodan. These Jaffa do not bear any mark, but retain the symbiote pouch; they steal larval Goa'uld in raids and kill them once they have reached maturity. The Sodan are a fictional group or rebel Jaffa in the science fiction series Stargate SG-1. ...

Supposedly, married male Jaffa must shave their heads soon after their wedding. However, in his current spirit of rebellion against the old ways, Teal'c later grows a small afro. Tealc [ˈtiːəlk] is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1. ...

Events in the series

Teal'c (portrayed by Christopher Judge), a Jaffa who chooses to join the SG-1 team and fight for freedom, starts out as a lone traitor, but gradually and with the aid of his former Jaffa mentor, Bra'tac, Teal'c is able to rally an increasing number of other Jaffa to his cause of freedom. Tealc [ˈtiːəlk] is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1. ... Douglas Christopher Judge (born October 13, 1967 in Los Angeles, California) is an American actor of African and Cherokee Indian descent. ... In the Stargate universe, Bratac is a former First Prime of the Goauld System Lord Apophis played by Tony Amendola; as of Season Nine, he is also a Progressive member of the High Council of the Free Jaffa Nation. ...

Jaffa Resistance

By season six, the Jaffa Resistance (Occasionally referred to as the Fifth Column) has been formed; an organized rebellion against the Goa'uld of which Teal'c is a prominent leader. At the end of season eight, Teal'c achieves his goal and finally helps liberate the Jaffa from the Goa'uld; the Goa'uld have long weakened one another by continuous civil war amongst the System Lords, and were then crippled by an invasion of our galaxy by the Replicators. The Goauld (pronounced go-a-OOLD , commonly GOOLD, or go-OOLD) are a fictional parasitic alien race in the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1 universe. ... The following article refers to the sci-fi television show, Stargate SG-1. ... In the science fiction series Stargate SG-1, the Replicators are a race of self-replicating machines, and arguably one of the most advanced races in the Stargate universe. ...

Soon after, forces of the Tau'ri are able to defeat the Replicators. The Jaffa see the Goa'uld's inability to save themselves from the Replicators as proof that they are false Gods, especially when System Lord Ba'al makes a cowardly escape from the Jaffa Resistance, after which the Jaffa turn against the Goa'uld en masse. In the science fiction television show Stargate SG-1, Baal is a Goauld based on the Baal of mythology. ...

Free Jaffa Nation

In season nine, the Free Jaffa Nation is being set up; it appears that High Council representation will be based on the military strength of the coalitions, against Teal'c's wishes; Teal'c himself advocates new ways, supposedly adopted from the Tau'ri. He hints to General Hank Landry that he wants a democratic system. In the fictional Stargate universe, the Free Jaffa Nation is the premiere galactic power, given established by the success of the Jaffa Resistance. ... In the fictional Stargate universe, the Jaffa High Council is the ruling body of the Free Jaffa Nation. ... The Tauri [tɔːɹi] (sometimes spelt Tauri, and often spoken as People of the Tauri) is a widespread term used to refer to humans of Earth by many alien races in the science fiction universe Stargate SG-1. ... Major General Hank Landry is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1 played by Beau Bridges. ... Representative democracy is a form of democracy founded on the exercise of popular sovereignty by the peoples representatives. ...

Gerak becomes leader of the Jaffa High Council despite the efforts of Teal'c and the Tau'ri. He even strengthens his position by capturing Ba'al and executing him before the Council's eyes. The interest he shows in the religion of the Ori - Origin - after having seen "the show" by the Prior is disconcerting, especially now that he has won the hearts and minds of the Council. In the science-fiction TV series Stargate SG-1, Gerak, portrayed by Louis Gossett, Jr. ... The Ori (pronounced OR-eye) are fictional characters on the Stargate SG-1 television program. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Ori (Stargate). ... A Prior is a follower of the Ori who has been modified by the Ori to be superhuman, in the television science fiction series, Stargate SG-1. ...

A threat of civil war begins to brew as Gerak advocates that all Jaffa should follow the Ori and even adopt a law to that effect. When prompted by a Prior to wipe out the unbelievers he is too fainthearted. He is taken to Celestis - the City of the Gods - and transformed into a Prior himself.

When Teal'c addresses the Council to convince them not to follow the Ori, Gerak enters and declares that it is the destiny of all Jaffa to follow... Origin! However, after Gerak's change of heart (apostasy, in the eyes of the Ori), the Jaffa now stand firm against the Ori. Apostasy (from Greek αποστασία, meaning a defection or revolt , from απο, apo, away, apart, στασις, stasis, standing) is a term generally employed to describe the formal renunciation of ones religion, especially if the motive is deemed unworthy. ...

After the death of Gerak, Teal'c, Bra'tac, and their supporters in the Jaffa High Council were able to change the government of the Jaffa Nation and form a democracy.

A year later, the newest military leader, Se'tak, used the Dakara Weapon to attack an Ori-controlled planet to takeover the landed battlecruiser to turn the tide against the Ori. The Tau'ri were angry with using the genocide weapon but Se'tak claimed that desperate measures had to be taken and they will no longer rely on another race. However, the Orici, Adria, had survived and found out the location of Dakara and destroyed the weapon, devastating the Jaffa Nation and killing much of its leadership. With the destruction of Dakara and its super-weapon, nothing remained to unite the Jaffa and the Free Jaffa Nation is now in turmoil.

Following the Ori

Several Jaffa factions had joined a former First Prime, Arkad, who formed a cult known as Illac Renin, a group of Jaffa who follow the Ori. Because the Tau'ri are becoming a thorn in the side of their masters, Illac Renin stocked up weapons-grade naquadah for an attack on Earth. However, Teal'c was able to kill him before it could happen. The Illac Renin are a Jaffa group that appears in the episode Talion. ...

See also

• Jaffa characters in Stargate
• Goa'uld language, also used by the Jaffa.

Alien races in the Stargate universe		Edit
Four Great Races	Ancients, Asgard, Furling, Nox
Humans	Tau'ri, Tollan, Aschen, Genii, Athosians, Prior, Jaffa: Sodan, Free Jaffa, Hak'tyl
Ascended beings	Ancient, Ori
Goa'uld	System Lords, Tok'ra, Kull Warrior
Other	Asurans, Iratus bug, R-75, Re'ol, Re'tu, Replicator, "Spirits", Unas, Wraith

Topics in Stargate		v • d • e
Story of Stargate	Stargate, Stargate SG-1 (episodes), Stargate Atlantis (episodes), Stargate Infinity (episodes), Stargate Third Series Stargate: The Ark of Truth, Stargate: Continuum, Comics, Literature
Stargate Universe	Alien Races, Planets, Technology, Characters, The SGC, SG-1, SG Team, Atlantis, The Stargate, Ascension
Factions in Stargate	Tau'ri, Jaffa Resistance, Tok'ra, Asgard, Ancients Goa'uld, Jaffa, System Lords, Replicators, Ori, Wraith, Lucian Alliance, The Trust, NID, IOA