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Three Wise Men?

melchior

Melchior

Balthasar

Balthasar

Caspar

Caspar

We don't really know how many Magi there were? It is assumed that because there were three gifts, there were three wisemen. Also in legend, the wisemen were named as Melchoir, Balthasar and Caspar. However, these names are not given in Holy Scripture.

Augustine and Chrysostom say that there were twelve, but the common belief is that they were three in number. The Venerable Bede even gives us their names, their country, and their personal appearance. Melchior was an old man with white hair and long beard; Caspar, a ruddy and beardless youth; Balthasar, swarthy and in the prime of life. We are further informed by tradition that Melchior was a descendant of Shem, Caspar of Ham, and Balthasar of Japheth. Thus they are made representatives of the three periods of life, and the three divisions of the globe; and valueless as such fictions may be for direct historical purposes, they have been rendered interesting by their influence on the most splendid productions of religious art. The skulls of these three kings, each circled with its crown of jewelled gold, are still exhibited among the relics in the cathedral at Cologne.

learn more button (Excerpt taken from www.ChristianWritings.com)