Abstract
The interest in the ideal Christian kingdom of Prester John, originating in the 12th century, reached its heights in the
second half of the 15th, and in the first quarter of the 16th century. This had to do with the fear of European Christendom from the
Ottomans and the better connections with Ethiopia which was identified as that legendary kingdom. Soaring Jewish messianic
expectations in that period heightened a parallel interest in the Ten Lost Tribes, widely believed to live in the same area. This paper
tries to illustrate the benefit of familiarity with both Christian and Jewish relevant sources. A Hebrew source informs us that Prester
John is called Sultan Bati, an appellation unknown to us from any Christian source. The meaning of this name is discussed and
solution is offered on the basis of Christian travelling literature. Inter alia, we discuss Hebrew sources referring to «baptism by fire»,
a topic of great interest in Europe during the period under analysis.
second half of the 15th, and in the first quarter of the 16th century. This had to do with the fear of European Christendom from the
Ottomans and the better connections with Ethiopia which was identified as that legendary kingdom. Soaring Jewish messianic
expectations in that period heightened a parallel interest in the Ten Lost Tribes, widely believed to live in the same area. This paper
tries to illustrate the benefit of familiarity with both Christian and Jewish relevant sources. A Hebrew source informs us that Prester
John is called Sultan Bati, an appellation unknown to us from any Christian source. The meaning of this name is discussed and
solution is offered on the basis of Christian travelling literature. Inter alia, we discuss Hebrew sources referring to «baptism by fire»,
a topic of great interest in Europe during the period under analysis.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 329-334 |
| Journal | Materia giudaica : rivista dell'associazione italiana per lo studio del giudaismo |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| State | Published - 2002 |
Keywords
- Abraham ben Eliezer, ha-Levi, approximately 1460-approximately 1529
- Jewish messianic movements
- Jews -- Ethiopia -- History -- 1500
- Lost tribes of Israel
- Prester John (Legendary character)