The Travels of Sir John Mandeville

Mandeville describes the Earthly Paradise as an idyllic, inaccessible location in the easternmost regions of Asia. It is also known as the Garden of Eden, where the Bible teaches that the first humans, Adam and Eve, lived in a state of sinless bliss. In line with this, Mandeville describes the Earthly Paradise as the origin point for many miracles, such as the Well of Youth and medicinal wood that floats down the Nile. Moreover, Mandeville claims that the Earthly Paradise is the origin point of all freshwater rivers in the world. Such descriptions show the presence of the divine in Mandeville’s worldview, illustrating The Interplay of Religion, Folklore, and Reality in the Medieval Mind. The Earthly Paradise also marks the ultimate limits of human exploration, as Mandeville claims that the wilderness and rivers surrounding the garden prevented him from approaching it. This is in keeping with the Genesis story of humanity’s expulsion’s from Paradise.

A holy relic is an object that holds religious significance because of its association with a divine figure, saint, or holy event. In Catholic Christianity, relics are often the physical remains of saints or items associated with a saint’s martyrdom. They are often believed to possess miraculous powers, such as the ability to heal the sick or protect one from harm.