Myths and truth about the three wise men

Unsurpassed figurines of all the nativity scenes that decorate homes during Christmas. Almost on the same level as Joseph, Mary or the baby Jesus himself.

However, we know little about them. We know their names (Melchior, Gaspard and Balthazar) and that they were passed down to posterity as the Three Wise Men, although it is unlikely that they were actually wizards. Or maybe there weren’t even three of them.

On January 6, Spain and other parts of Latin America celebrate Three Kings Day, when people actually give each other gifts, just like the Three Wise Men did with baby Jesus in the manger.

Where does the story begin?

The first mention of the three wise men appears in the Bible, named Matthew in the Gospel:

“Some wise men from the East came to Jerusalem and said: “Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the East and came to worship Him” (Matthew 2:1-12, Jerusalem Bible).

The problem is that Matthew talks about them very briefly, therefore it does not allow us to get an accurate idea of ​​the number of wise men or what they were like.

This ambiguity has given rise to different interpretations. In a note A countryDoctor of Art History Maria Teresa Garcia notes:

“In the Romanesque style it is customary to stage only one thing. In the 12th century, it was decided to establish the number of three wise men. The reason is that they identify themselves with the three known continents (Europe, Asia and Africa), with the three persons of the Trinity and with the three ages of man (young, mature and old, so that it becomes clear that the human being must worship God throughout his life ). Melchior is the oldest magician, Gaspard is maturity, and Balthasar is youth.”

Were they wizards?

History has also cast doubt on whether the Three Wise Men were actually kings or wizards. It is now believed that these characters were quite wise and knowledgeable about the stars.

“It is almost certain that these celebrated biblical figures were at any rate magicians, sages, or Persian astrologers who knew the stars, but the king imparted more prestige. For example, in the paintings of the catacombs of Santa Priscilla (early 2nd century) they are represented as Persian nobles,” says researcher Jesus Callejo.

Where are they vacationing now?

Finally, one of the greatest unknowns surrounding the Three Magi is where their remains are located, of course, since they existed.

One theory suggests that they may have been buried in Cologne Cathedral in Germany, while another suggests that Saveh (Iran) is the eternal resting place of these famous historical figures.