Difference between revisions of "Category:Magi (subject)"

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The Magi were, according to the Gospel of Matthew, a group of wise men who came from the East to pay homage to the infant Jesus when he was born at Bethlehem.

< Journey of the Magi -- Adoration of the Magi -- Relics of the Magi >

Overview

The episode of the Adoration of the Magi is narrated only in the Gospel of Matthew. The legend of the Magi originated from the merging of traditions about "wise men from the East" with the memory of the appearance of Halley's Comet in October 12 BCE (and January 66 CE). "Wise Men form the East" had the reputation of interpreting the exact meaning of exceptional astronomical phenomena, like the appearance of a comet, which were believed to announce exceptional historical events, like the birth of a new King.

Later Christian tradition embellished the episode, and a series of legends began to flourish about the identity and whereabouts of the "three" Magi, who were described as "kings" coming from the East. By the 5th-6th century, Melchior (Melkon), Gaspar (Jaspar), and Balthasar emerged among the most popular characters in the Gospel.

According to the 12th-century Vita Eustorgi, the bishop of Milan St. Eustorgius obtained permission from the Emperor to transfer to Milan the remains of the three Magi, which in the fourth century had been "discovered" by St. Helena and taken to the Church of St. Sofia in Constantinople. In 1164 Milan was looted by Federico Barbarossa and the remains of the Magi was transferred to the Cathedral of Cologne where they are still preserved. See Relics of the Magi.

Around 1370 Johannes of Hildesheim in his Historia Trium Regum collected all traditions about the Magi into a long and detailed narrative, which became standard in Western Christianity. The work enjoyed great popularity and was translated into German, Dutch, French, English and Danish. At the end of the 15th century, the Historia de gestis trium regum would be among the first printed books--Mainz [Germany]: Johann Guldenschaiff, 1477 [1478, 1486]; Cologne [Germany]: Bartholomaeus de Unkel, 1481; Modena [Italy]: Dominicus Richizola, 1490; and in English translation, London [England]: Wynkyn de Worde, 1499.

In Depth

• Magi (sources)

• Magi (arts)

External links

• Wikipedia

Additional Bibliography

• Martin McNamara, “Were the Magi Essenes?”, Irish Ecclesiastical Record, 110 (1968), 305-328.