| 释义 |
Prester John
Pres·ter John P0544400 (prĕs′tər)n. A legendary figure in Europe during the Middle Ages, who was thought to rule over a large Christian kingdom in Ethiopia or Central Asia.
[Middle English prestre, priest, from Old French, from Late Latin presbyter; see presbyter.]Prester John (ˈprɛstə) n (European Myth & Legend) a legendary Christian priest and king, believed in the Middle Ages to have ruled in the Far East, but identified in the 14th century with the king of Ethiopia[C14 Prestre Johan, from Medieval Latin presbyter Iohannes Priest John]
Prester John
Prester John, legendary Christian priest and monarch of a vast, wealthy empire in Asia or in Africa. The legend first appeared in the latter part of the 12th cent. and persisted for several centuries. At first the utopian realm of this Christian king was supposed to be in Asia, but later it was more generally placed in Africa. Letters supposed to have been written by him and about him were widely circulated in Western Europe. Bibliography See studies by V. Slessarev (1959) and R. Silverberg (1972). |