Imagine the Magi

The Feast of the Holy Epiphany is celebrated on the sixth of January.  Epiphany is a word of Greek origin and is related to the word phenomenon, meaning an appearance, coming forth or making public.

Our knowledge of the Magi comes from the Gospel narrative, over the centuries the story has been embellished. The only account is Mathew’s; he writes “soon afterwards some men who studied the stars came from the East to Jerusalem. ..and when they saw the child with his mother Mary, they knelt down and worshipped Him. They brought out their gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh and presented them to him.“ Mathew says they were men who studied the stars, either astronomers or astrologers and they had the three gifts, therefore it was always assumed there were three, usually described as wise men.

The phrase “wise men” derives from the Greek word magos or magi in the plural .The word magic is derived from the same root and magi are generally associated with occult studies.  Mathew tells us that they came from the East. The only known Magian priests East of Palestine would have come from Media, Persia, Assyria or Babylonia. They appear to have researched the Old Testament and believed its prophecies about the Messiah. In Mathew 2 v 5 they replied to Herod; paraphrasing Micah 5 v 2 “ For this is what the prophet wrote, Bethlehem in the land of Judea you are by no means the least of the leading cities of Judea, from you will come a leader who will guide my people Israel”.

The gifts they brought reflected the aspects of Christ's nature: gold to a king, myrrh to one who will die, and incense, as homage to a God. There is no mention of camels or any mode of transportation. You could assume that they would be accompanied by a retinue of servants, together they could have made a sizeable caravan crossing the Judean landscape. There is also no mention of their names. The traditional names adopted in the West are Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, these names are immortalised in the carol, We Three Kings.  Artists depicting the Christmas narrative illustrate the magi in varying styles. From the 12th century, the magi are made to represent the three known parts of the world: Balthasar is very commonly cast as a young African or Moor, and old Caspar is given Oriental features or, more often, dress. Melchior represents Europe and middle age.

From the 14th century onwards, large retinues are often shown, the gifts are contained in spectacular pieces of goldsmith work, and the Magi's clothes are given increasing attention.

The image by Bartolo di Fredi 1330-1418 used on the title page depicts the magi against the backdrop of his native city Siena.  Whatever we read into the visit of the magi I am reminded of one-time wayside pulpit,

Wise men came seeking Jesus, they still do!