Many know from the Bible that the wise men are wise men who came from the east. The Gospel of Matthew says that the Magi followed the Star of Bethlehem to find the Savior and give him gifts of gold, incense and myrrh. However, are these mysterious sages with unusual gifts mentioned elsewhere besides the Bible? If so, what was the Star of Bethlehem?
The word magi (in English "magi") comes from the Latin word borrowed from the Greek language and denoting the concept "magoi", which in turn was borrowed from the ancient Persian language and came from the word "magus". In Old English, this word sounded like "mage". It is from him that the modern English word "magic" comes from. One of the first mentions of the Magi is contained in the writings of Herodotus, who claimed that this was a secret class of priests who lived in Media (today it is the northwestern part of Iran and the territory of Kurdistan). The Magi were representatives of one of the six indigenous Median tribes. When in the VI century. BC e. these lands were part of the Persian Empire, priests of the old Median religion, probably originating from Mesopotamia,decided to bring their ancient customs in accordance with the monotheistic Zoroastrian faith. There is no doubt that this process was long and painful. It is known from written sources that when the Persian king Darius the Great (521-486 BC), one of the first kings of the Achaemenid dynasty (560-330 BC), learned that the Magi during the time of the Medes the kingdoms were engaged in the interpretation of dreams, he granted them privileges in the new state religion of Persia. Herodotus wrote about the Magi already as Zoroastrian priests who performed functions somewhat reminiscent of the rituals of shamans or healers. In addition, the wise men became consultants to the Persian emperor in astrology, so it is not surprising that soon their influence strengthened, and the fame of the wise men as great sages spread throughout the empire.that this process was long and painful. It is known from written sources that when the Persian king Darius the Great (521-486 BC), one of the first kings of the Achaemenid dynasty (560-330 BC), learned that the Magi during the time of the Medes the kingdoms were engaged in the interpretation of dreams, he granted them privileges in the new state religion of Persia. Herodotus wrote about the Magi already as Zoroastrian priests who performed functions somewhat reminiscent of the rituals of shamans or healers. In addition, the wise men became consultants to the Persian emperor in astrology, so it is not surprising that soon their influence strengthened, and the fame of the wise men as great sages spread throughout the empire.that this process was long and painful. It is known from written sources that when the Persian king Darius the Great (521-486 BC), one of the first kings of the Achaemenid dynasty (560-330 BC), learned that the Magi during the time of the Medes the kingdoms were engaged in the interpretation of dreams, he granted them privileges in the new state religion of Persia. Herodotus wrote about the Magi already as Zoroastrian priests who performed functions somewhat reminiscent of the rituals of shamans or healers. In addition, the wise men became consultants to the Persian emperor in astrology, so it is not surprising that soon their influence strengthened, and the fame of the wise men as great sages spread throughout the empire.one of the first kings of the Achaemenid dynasty (560-330 BC), learned that the Magi during the Median kingdom were engaged in the interpretation of dreams, he granted them privileges under the new state religion of Persia. Herodotus wrote about the Magi already as Zoroastrian priests who performed functions somewhat reminiscent of the rituals of shamans or healers. In addition, the wise men became consultants to the Persian emperor in astrology, so it is not surprising that soon their influence strengthened, and the fame of the wise men as great sages spread throughout the empire.one of the first kings of the Achaemenid dynasty (560-330 BC), learned that the Magi during the Median kingdom were engaged in the interpretation of dreams, he granted them privileges under the new state religion of Persia. Herodotus wrote about the Magi already as Zoroastrian priests who performed functions somewhat reminiscent of the rituals of shamans or healers. In addition, the wise men became consultants to the Persian emperor in astrology, so it is not surprising that soon their influence strengthened, and the fame of the wise men as great sages spread throughout the empire.somewhat reminiscent of the rituals of shamans or healers. In addition, the wise men became consultants to the Persian emperor in astrology, so it is not surprising that soon their influence strengthened, and the fame of the wise men as great sages spread throughout the empire.somewhat reminiscent of the rituals of shamans or healers. In addition, the wise men became consultants to the Persian emperor in astrology, so it is not surprising that soon their influence strengthened, and the fame of the wise men as great sages spread throughout the empire.
An important source of knowledge about the wise men of the time of Darius was the collection of ancient Persian cuneiform texts from 506-497. BC e. about issues of an administrative and economic nature in the form of tablets from the fortifications of the city of Persepolis, which speak of both the religious and political influence of the Magi on society at that time. However, combining the positions of manager and priest was a common practice in the states of the Middle East at that time. The Magi, as the ministers of the cult, were entrusted with important duties, as evidenced by the colorful description of the ritual of sacrifice in the capital of Persia, Persepolis. The tablets give information about the Magi as "kindlers of fire" who performed a special ritual similar to the offering of fire to the supreme god of the ancient Persians, Ahuramazda (a wise lord). Clay tablets tell about the activities of the Magi at the court of the Persian king, which is also confirmed by the testimonies of ancient Greek authors: the priests, who carried out religious activities at the highest level, took part in governing the state.
After the invasion of Persia by Alexander the Great in the winter of 331 BC. e. the Achaemenid dynasty ceased to exist. Of course, in ancient sources there are references to some of the rituals carried out by the Magi at the court of Alexander, nevertheless, it is obvious that he destroyed many Zoroastrian sanctuaries, perhaps because he saw in this religion a threat to his power.
The Greek writer and geographer Strabo (63 BC - 21 AD) describes the Magi sect in Cappadocia (now central Turkey), referring to its members as "firelighters." He talks about temples of fire with altars, on which a burning fire was constantly maintained, where the wise men "in high hats made of felt, reaching up to their cheeks and even covering their lips" would come every day for about an hour and, holding a branch of tamarisk or other plant over the fire, read spells. Apparently, some of the Magi traveled westward, stopping in Greece and Italy. Traces of their beliefs and customs can be found in Mithraism, an ancient secret religion that gained wide popularity among Roman legionaries in the 3rd and 4th centuries. During the Roman Empire, the word "sorcerer" began to be used for. designations of any representative of the Eastern cult,and with the birth of Jesus - everyone who was associated with magic, astrologers and interpretation of dreams. The Magi, apparently, were recognized as part of the Roman imperial court, since they are referred to as assistants to high-ranking officials "and administrators.
The Gospel of Matthew (created in the 60-80s) is the only source describing the coming of the Magi to Jesus in Bethlehem. It says that "wise men from the east have come to Jerusalem" who are interested in the stars. If so, these sages were astrologers. The connection with the stars prompted some researchers to think that they came from Babylon - the famous center of astrology at that time. However, judging by the uniqueness of the gifts they brought - gold, frankincense and myrrh - Arabia may become a more likely place, but it did not have a priestly stratum consisting of the Magi. Matthew did not mention how many wise men there were. But the number of gifts suggests that there were three of them. These gifts have great symbolic meaning for Christians: incense represents Christian divinity, gold represents royalty, and myrrh,which was used to anoint the bodies of the dead, symbolized the Passion of the Lord and the coming death.
According to the Gospel of Matthew, before arriving in Bethlehem, the Magi met with King Herod of Judea, who was a puppet in the hands of the Roman Empire. Seeing a star in the east, they asked the ruler to show them a new king. Herod, knowing about the Old Testament prediction, sent them to Bethlehem, but asked them to visit him on the way back and tell him about everything, so that he, too, could show his respect to the newborn Savior. When the Magi arrived in Bethlehem, a star appeared in the sky again. They followed her until they found the king of the Jews and gave him their gifts. Then the astrologers had a prophetic dream warning against a visit to Herod with the requirement to return to Persia by another road.
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Herod was furious with the deception and gave the order to beat up innocent babies, as a result of which all children under two years old who were in Bethlehem and its environs were injured. However, Joseph managed to take Mary and the baby to a safe place in Egypt.
Today there is widespread discussion about the star that guided the Magi on their long journey from the east to Judea. Various explanations for this astronomical phenomenon are proposed, including the version that these were meteorites, the planet Venus, the phenomenon of standing planets, the birth of a new star, a comet and even a UFO. To date, the two most common theories are that the star in the east was either the planet Jupiter or Halley's comet.
The Greek word "aster", which Matthew uses in the Gospel to describe the star of Bethlehem, can be interpreted as a comet. However, is there any other information about comets in written sources of that time? In the Roman period, it was believed that the appearance of a comet announced tragic historical events, for example, the death of the emperor, which means that at that time it could not be associated with the birth of the Messiah. However, the Magi on the Turkish Black Sea coast considered comets a good omen. The successful reign of King Mithridates VI was associated with comets - good heavenly harbingers, as evidenced by the coins with their image. The appearance of Halley's comet in 12 BC e. horrified all the inhabitants of the Mediterranean, primarily the inhabitants of Rome, who watched her in the sky over the city. Since Herod is believed to have died in 4 BC. e.,most scholars today tend to date Jesus' birth around 12-4 BC. BC e. This means that Halley's comet could be the so-called star of Bethlehem. There are, however, some contradictions in the comet theory. The Gospel of Matthew says that Herod and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did not notice the star of Bethlehem in the night sky, but this cannot be the case when it comes to such a noticeable celestial object like Halley's comet.
Jupiter in those days was known as the star of Zeus and was traditionally considered the planet of kings. Astronomer Michael R. Molnar of Rutgers University in New Jersey interprets the words from the Gospel of Matthew the star "returns" and "stands" as evidence of the reverse motion and standing of the planet Jupiter. Molnar discovered a Roman coin issued in Antioch, the capital of the Roman privation in Syria, dating from the time of Jesus' birth. The coin depicts the astrological sign of Aries, turning his head back, as if looking back at a star. Molnar believes that the coin was issued as a reminder of the capture of Judea by Roman Antioch in 6 AD. e. Further research showed that in the most important work on astronomy by Claudius Ptolemy "Tetrobiblas", the sign of Aries is interpreted as a constellation that controls the inhabitants of "Judea, Idumea, Samaria, Palestine and Kelesiria", that is, the landsruled by King Herod. Thus, the star on the coin could symbolize the fate of Judea, which was under the yoke of Roman Antioch. This could mean that astrologers expected the birth of the great King of the Jews, which foreshadowed the appearance of the Star of Bethlehem in the constellation Aries. Molnar is sure that the celestial phenomenon that occurred on April 17, 6 BC. BC, when Jupiter was in the constellation Aries and the Moon closed the planet, and was an event that indicated the birth of a divine infant. Although more research is needed to confirm this version, it is by far the most reasoned and indicates that the Magi from Persia followed the real star (in this case, Jupiter), which soon led them to Bethlehem to the future King of Judah …the star on the coin could symbolize the fate of Judea, which was under the yoke of Roman Antioch. This could mean that astrologers expected the birth of the great King of the Jews, which foreshadowed the appearance of the Star of Bethlehem in the constellation Aries. Molnar is sure that the celestial phenomenon that occurred on April 17, 6 BC. BC, when Jupiter was in the constellation Aries and the Moon closed the planet, and was an event that indicated the birth of a divine infant. Although more research is needed to confirm this version, it is by far the most reasoned and indicates that the Magi from Persia followed the real star (in this case, Jupiter), which soon led them to Bethlehem to the future King of Judah …the star on the coin could symbolize the fate of Judea, which was under the yoke of Roman Antioch. This could mean that astrologers expected the birth of the great King of the Jews, which foreshadowed the appearance of the Star of Bethlehem in the constellation Aries. Molnar is sure that the celestial phenomenon that occurred on April 17, 6 BC. BC, when Jupiter was in the constellation Aries and the Moon closed the planet, and was an event that indicated the birth of a divine infant. Although more research is needed to confirm this version, it is by far the most reasoned and indicates that the Magi from Persia followed the real star (in this case, Jupiter), which soon led them to Bethlehem to the future King of Judah …that astrologers expected the birth of the great King of the Jews, which foreshadowed the appearance of the star of Bethlehem in the constellation Aries. Molnar is sure that the celestial phenomenon that occurred on April 17, 6 BC. BC, when Jupiter was in the constellation Aries and the Moon closed the planet, and was an event that indicated the birth of a divine infant. Although more research is needed to confirm this version, it is by far the most reasoned and indicates that the Magi from Persia followed the real star (in this case, Jupiter), which soon led them to Bethlehem to the future King of Judah …that astrologers expected the birth of the great King of the Jews, which foreshadowed the appearance of the star of Bethlehem in the constellation Aries. Molnar is sure that the celestial phenomenon that occurred on April 17, 6 BC. BC, when Jupiter was in the constellation Aries and the Moon closed the planet, and was an event that indicated the birth of a divine infant. Although more research is needed to confirm this version, it is by far the most reasoned and indicates that the Magi from Persia followed the real star (in this case, Jupiter), which soon led them to Bethlehem to the future King of Judah …and was the event that indicated the birth of a divine infant. Although more research is needed to confirm this version, it is by far the most reasoned and indicates that the Magi from Persia followed the real star (in this case, Jupiter), which soon led them to Bethlehem to the future King of Judah …and was the event that indicated the birth of a divine infant. Although more research is needed to confirm this version, it is by far the most reasoned and indicates that the Magi from Persia followed the real star (in this case, Jupiter), which soon led them to Bethlehem to the future King of Judah …
Author: B. Houghton. "Great secrets and mysteries of history"
