Milk and Honey

Prester John’s letter is filled with Biblical references. In one paragraph, he mentions that his “land streams with honey, and is overflowing with milk.”1 This is reminiscent of Bible passages, specifically in Exodus. In this book, God promised the people of Israel, at that time stuck as slaves to the Egyptians, that he would “bring [them] up out of the misery of Egypt, to […] a land flowing with milk and honey.”2 These words were repeated several times, summoning forth beautiful imagery of a spectacular land to strive for throughout their journeys.

The fact that the letter refers to this suggests arrogance; he claims to have not only found but conquered this land. He brags about it. Again, questions of legitimacy are brought up; could he really have found such a perfect land? What is the letter specifically talking about? Was this just a passing Biblical reference to contribute to the idea of Prester John’s power?

  1. Sabine Baring-Gould, Curious Myths of the Middle Ages, (London, United Kingdom: Rivingtons, 1876), 30-53.
  2. Exodus 3:13-17.