I feel (both) the readers of the blog post today serves as an introduction to the next article in which I will talk about something I discovered recently.
The premise here is that I do enough to fully understand the next post, but for those who want to further deepen the topic recommend reading the book "The King of the World" by René Guénon.
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The legend of Prester John started in 1165, when a mysterious letter reached the Emperor of Byzantium Manuel I Comnenus. The letter was written by a character who appeared as " John Priest, thanks to the Almighty God, King of Kings and King of kings . Also in the letter, the sender would have claimed to be king and priest of a kingdom located close to India. This letter came to know through the ambassadors, the Pope and the Emperor (Barbarossa), but nothing came of it, and of Prester John was lost. Following Marco Polo motioned to the kingdom of Prester John in his book, "The Million", describing it as a fantastic place, prosperous and full of all wealth. We are here in front of stories where the historical elements are mixed with myth and legend, where sometimes the facts narrated can take both a literal and a symbolic value.
Rene Guenon in his book "The King of the World" takes present this legendary figure and the approaches to the biblical figure of Melchizedek, concluding that after the two characters symbolically represent the same thing. Although it is both king Melchizedek priest, since it is simultaneously " king of Salem" and " priest of God Most High" (Genesis 14:18).
The Prester John is also the king of kings " thanks to the Almighty God", then its shape is characterized by a great authority, which comes directly from God the same way Melchizedek was "priest of High God "and is" made like the Son of God " besides the fact that is considered superior even to Abraham.
René Guénon claims that this figure, we can call "King of the World", does not designate so much a particular individual, it is first and foremost a principle . This principle can also be manifest in certain centers or represented by a person:
" This principle can be expressed by a spiritual center established in the terrestrial world, an organization responsible for keeping the full filing of the sacred tradition of origin "not human" through which the primordial wisdom is communicated through the ages those who are able to receive it. The head of that organization, as it represents the same Manu [this principle] can legitimately bear the title [King of the World] and attributes, in addition, given the degree of knowledge which must have reached to exert its function , it really identifies with the principle of which is in some ways the human expression .
(René Gueénon, The King of the World)
(René Gueénon, The King of the World)
According to Guenon, the culmination of this "organized" should be composed of twelve members (think twelve Apostles, twelve Knights of the Round Table, to twelve members of the council circular "the Dalai Lama, etc...)
I would then sum up and highlight these issues:
- King of the World ( Prester John, Melchizedek) would be at the head of an organization that fully retains traditional knowledge.
- these figures are attributed to the highest titles king and priest
- the top of the organization is composed of twelve members .
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Related Items:
The Prester John in a poem of chivalry
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Related Items:
The Prester John in a poem of chivalry
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