MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

The Only Monument to Prester John in the World

By

This image referencing ‘Port Elizabeth’ is courtesy of Flickr. Click on the name of the Flickr account holder below the photograph to see more images.

Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape


Image by flowcomm

This image is automatically selected as it was published with this keyword/s relevant to Port Elizabeth: Port Elizabeth. Please – CLICK HERE to report any ‘offensive’ images. Don’t forget to support and thank the photographer.

In Flemming Square behind the Port Elizabeth City Hall in Govan Mbeki Avenue stands a monument dedicated to the mythical king-priest, Prester John, and the Portuguese explorers who discovered South Africa.

The Prestor John Memorial was unveiled in 1986 by the then Portuguese Ambassador to South Africa.

The memorial consists of a large Coptic cross and, in the central circle, are the figures of Prester John and a Portuguese navigator.

It was the quest for Prester John as a Christian ally that led to expeditions to reach him by sailing around Africa.

The monument is believed to be the only monument in the world depicting Prester John.

Along with looking for a route to the East, the Portuguese were also looking for the kingdom of this legendary monarch who was supposed to rule over a land with many riches and wild animals ruled and said to be as wise as King Solomon.

It took the Portuguese 500 years to map the way to the east via the Cape, and their 500 year search for Prester John’s kingdom was to no avail.

https://youtu.be/_So8KF0k4lY

Submit your own Port Elizabeth images here.

The following two tabs change content below.

Port Elizabethan

This author is a 'catch-all' for occasional articles and letters written to MyPE. The Author of each article can be found in the signature at the bottom of each individual article.