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• 1 2023-11-27T09:57:54-08:00 Cosmographia 7 plain 2023-12-02T16:43:25-08:00 Sebastian Münster's Cosmographia (1544), composed in German and then translated into English in 1574, is one of the earliest German language cosmologies. Münster's text contains an extended discussion about Prester John ('Preto Ihoan' in the English translation) that, while situating his kingdom in Ethiopia, does not adhere to the earnest attempts at accuracy that characterize many of the narratives of that narrative path.
  
  Instead the Cosmographia plucks familiar stories of eastern marvels, including those found in the Letter of Prester John, to describe the Prester's kingdom in sixteenth century Ethiopia. 
  
  Brewer (p. 219) prints the relevant text from the 1574 English translation:

  The rule and dominion of Preto Ihoan is large and of greate compasse, this country excelleth in riches, in gold, siluer, and precious stoones. Some saye that the Ethiopes liuing vnder Presti Ihon are verye good Christians, and that fourteene kinges do homage and obeysaunce to the Emperour Presti Ihoan, wherof some be tributary also to him. The great Almener of Presti Ihoan promiseth himself to fight for the Holy land. It is written that Thomas the Apostle was buried in the kingdom of Ethiope. There be beasts also in this country tbat haue seuen hornes in their foreheads. There be white Camels and white Beares, and horses with two hornes. It is said also that there be byrds or fowles in this country, which with their talents [talons] and nayles, will carrye away an Dre [dray], or an horse, to feede their yonge. In some part of this countrye, it is thought that there be men with hornes, and such as haue but one eye before them and two eyes behind them, and some people that feede vppon mans fleshe and deuour their owne parents, and flea [flay] and eate those which are aged. And another kind of people that hath feete like vnto horse feete and very rounde. Their women dwell seuerally [separately] and they haue three kingdomes. The thre Queenes of Amazones set forth and make preparation to warres with 300,000 souldiers of women.
  
  The Pigmeis in Affrica be good Christians. The king of the Pigmeis warre againste foules which destroye fruite and this people dryueth them away with theyr uoyces. It is said also that there be certaine monsters which aboue the loynes are seene fourrned like vnto men, aud [but] beneath the loynes vnto horses. The Ethiopians baue an artificious [clever] waye to take Lyons and Unicornes. There haue been seene in times past Giants of three score and ten cubites in compasse,and nowe in these dayes it is said that many great Giants be there seen of thirtie and fiue cubites in height. The birde which is called a Phenix, and liueth three hundred  yeares and more, is said to be set on fire and burnt through the heate of the Sunne,and that of her ashes there springeth another yang one. There is greate stoore of pepper gathered in the woodes, which are full of Serpentes and Scorpions. And men hauing heades like vnto dogges, are said to be very cunninge in fishinge.Other people there are which haue their faces in their breastes, they be strong and swift runners, and great searchers of gold and siluer. Many other such trifles and vncredible thinges the Jewes doe fable uppon the lande of Preto Ihoan, which areso farre beyonde all credite and likelyhode of truth, that I thought it better to omit them, then to occupie the reader in idle spending the time about them.