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The magi in tradition and re-imagined through symbolism

Updated: Nov 12, 2020

The Bible does not say how many magi there were, but three is the traditional number since they were said to have brought three types of gifts. There are many traditions in Africa and Asia that fill in missing information about the mysterious and intriguing magi. I chose the European tradition because these were the names I heard as a child. The cover art on the home page of this playlist is the mosaic in Ravenna that is said to have established the names Caspar, Balthazar, and Melchior in European tradition. They are depicted in Phrygian garb, but I imagine Caspar bringing his gold from India, Balthazar being an Ethiopian, perhaps journeying through Egypt and Arabia with his frankincense, and Melchior being a Persian, bearing the gift of myrrh.




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