The Three Kings

Today we celebrate the Three Kings, who followed the Star of Bethlehem to find the newborn Jesus and bear their gifts gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Well, what was the profession or position of Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar?

They are referred to by various names in different languages:

English: Biblical Magi – The Three Kings – The Three Wise Men

German: Die Heiligen Drei Könige (The Three Kings) – Die Drei Weisen /aus dem Morgenland/ (The Three Wise Men /from the East/)

Russian: Три царя (The Three Tsars)

Italian: I Magi (The Magi)

French: Les Rois Mages (The Magi-Kings)

Spanish: Los Reyes Magos (The Magi-Kings)

So there is a choice between kings (or tsars), intelligent people or sorcerers (ok, magicians). Magicians?

I did a bit or research and found out that the name comes from the word magos used in the Greek version of the Gospel of Matthew for a cast of priests. Since these priests practised religion and used astrology, the word magos and its derivatives were related to the occult.

It is reported that these three scholars behaved and were treated like kings.

In any case Christmas break ends officially today, and the interpreting year will start tomorrow…

 

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