The panoply of stories surrounding the birth of an obscure carpenter’s son in Roman-ruled Judea just over 2000 years ago includes some of the most iconic imagery in the Western canon. The stable, the manger and the animals surrounding the adoring parents of the boy-child, whose birth was heralded by angels and stars and drew humble shepherds and wise men alike.
For all their later prominence in the Christmas story, the wise men are only referred to in a single gospel, Matthew, in just 12 verses.
The wise men are known by the name “magi”, the very root of our word magic. Magi is the plural of magos, meaning one of the members of the learned and priestly class, from Old Persian magush. The Persian etymology at least fits the Matthew narrative, which states that the magi came “from the east”.
The story as narrated in Matthew goes thus:
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Having exited, stage left, the magi vanish from the Biblical narrative.
Note that here the magi visit the Holy Family in a house, not a stable. The stable and manger belong to the gospel of Luke. Matthew is also the only gospel that mentions the star. Very little is detail is given regarding the magi: not their number, their names nor their origins. Those are also later additions to the story.
In pre-modern times, the night sky had an importance we struggle to grasp today. Not least because the absence of city lighting and indoor entertainment meant that the night sky was both far more spectacular and more closely watched by most people than today. The stars were, if not divine themselves, then bearers of divine messages.
So when a particularly bright star appeared in the sky, such as a supernova or a comet, it was taken as a portent by pretty much everyone. As it happens, there were any numbers of such celestial events around the time of Jesus’ birth.
In 44 BC, a particularly bright comet appeared shortly after the assassination of Julius Caesar. To Romans, it was taken as sign that Julius had been deified. In 12 BC, Halley’s Comet made one of its regular appearances. In 7 and 6 BC, there were conjunctions of Jupiter, Saturn and Mars. In 5 BC a hypernova in the Andromeda galaxy would have been seen on Earth, as well as more local supernovae in 4 and 2 BC.
So there was more than enough going on in the heavens around the time of Jesus’ birth that the writer of Matthew would have recalled a few decades later.
What of the magi?
As prominent members of one of the world’s oldest civilisations, Persia’s priestly class were recognised across the ancient Mediterranean as authorities on matters mystical and religious (for good or ill, depended on local opinion regarding the Persians). Especially astrology. For a gospel writer trying to establish Jesus as a world-historic figure, a visit from the magi was peak celebrity endorsement. If magi had indeed visited Herod’s court around the time, it would be absolutely remembered by the writer of Matthew.
Over the centuries of the Christian era, more legends and stories accreted around the Christmas narrative, including the magi. Later texts have the magi visiting the holy family in a cave (perhaps to foreshadow the tomb), two years after Jesus’ birth. A sixth century Armenian gospel provides the exact date of their arrival: 8 January. This text also elevates the magi to kings, with names. Melchior is the king of Persia, Gaspar the king of India, and Balthazar the king of Arabia.
In an eighth century document, there are in fact 12 kings. Twelve is a recurrent number in Christianity: the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles. Not to mention the 12 signs of the Zodiac. That exactly 12 verses of Matthew first record the magi is probably also significant.
What is certain is that early Christian theologians had a field day with the legends of the mysterious visitors from the east and the star they followed. Over the centuries, those scant verses of Matthew grew into a body of lore, hymns and storytelling that has become some of the most wonderful, beautiful and mysterious in world literature.
