Prester John
mythic king
Prester John (Latin: Presbyter Ioannes) was a legendary Christian patriarch, presbyter, and king. Stories popular in Europe in the 12th to the 17th centuries told of a Nestorian patriarch and king who was said to rule over a Christian nation lost amid the pagans and Muslims in the Orient. The stories often depicted Prester John as a descendant of the Three Magi, ruling a kingdom full of riches, marvels, and strange creatures.
Quotes about Prester John
edit- In the extraordinary accounts of Prester John, which are first met in the twelfth century and were added to with succeeding centuries and which had great currency from the start, as the number of extant manuscripts shows, the natural marvels of India vie in impressiveness and wonderment with the power of Prester John himself and with the miracles of the Apostle Thomas. p. 252
He was of the ancient progeny of the Magi mentioned in the Gospel, ruled the same races as they, and enjoyed such glory and abundance that he was said to use only an emerald scepter. p.253- Lynn Thorndike, Prester John and the Marvels of India. A History of Magic and Experimental Science During the First Thirteen Centuries of Our Era. Vol. II. New York: Columbia University. .(1923)
- There are some little stones which eagles often bring to Prester John's territories and which worn on the finger preserve or restore the sight, or if consecrated with a lawful incantation, make one invisible and dispel envy and hatred and promote concord. After a description of a sea of sand in which there are various kinds of edible fish and a river of tones, Prester John soon mentions the worms which in his language are called salamanders, who cannot live except in fire, and from whose skins he has robes made which can be cleansed only by fire.
- Lynn Thorndike, Prester John and the Marvels of India. A History of Magic and Experimental Science During the First Thirteen Centuries of Our Era. Vol. II. New York: Columbia University. .(1923)
- After some boasting concerning the absence of poverty, crime, and falsehood in his country and about the pomp and wealth with which he goes forth to war, Prester John then comes to the description of his palace, which is similar to that which the Apostle Thomas built for Gundaphorus, King of India. Its gates of sardonyx mixed with cornucerastis (horn of the horned serpents) prevent the secret introduction of poison; a couch of sapphire keeps John chaste; the square before the palace where judicial duels are held is paved with onyx "in order that the courage of the fighters may be increased by the virtue of the stone." Near this square is a magic mirror which reveals all plots in the provinces subject to Prester John or inadjacent lands.- In some manuscripts...is a description of another palace which before Prester John's birth his father was instructed in a dream to build for his son. One feature of it is that no matter how hungry one maybe on entering it, he always comes out feeling as full as if he had partaken of a sumptuous banquet.
- Lynn Thorndike, Prester John and the Marvels of India. A History of Magic and Experimental Science During the First Thirteen Centuries of Our Era. Vol. II. New York: Columbia University. (1923)
- In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries the Western Christian Church, through its Popes, was also aware of the existence of a Mysterious Spiritual Abode and Brotherhood in the heart of Asia, headed by the then famous Prester John, as this Great Spirit called himself. This Prester John, from time to time, sent admonishing and warning notes to the Popes and other heads of the Church. According to historical records, one of the Popes sent an embassy to Prester John in Central Asia. One can well imagine the purpose of such an embassy, and, of course, after diverse misfortunes and vicissitudes, this embassy returned, unable to find the Spiritual Citadel. Yet Prester John continued to send his admonishing notes.
- Helena Roerich, Letters of Helena Roerich II (30 March 1936)
