The Christmas It is one of the most emotional and special moments of the year. This period involves the reunion of millions of families around the world. There are many traditions and customs around this party, one of the most anticipated by the little ones in the house. One of the moments that generates the most excitement in them is the day of January 6th, known as Three Kings Day.
On this day, the three Three Wise Men, Melchior, Gaspar and Baltasar, they appear to reward with gifts those who have behaved well throughout the year. These figures are vital in the history of the Christian religion, since they occupy a fundamental place in the birth of Jess. We detail what you should know about its history.
The Gospel of Matthew, source text of the Three Wise Men
Many are familiar with the names of the three wise men, but few are aware of its history. You have to go back to Gospel of Matthewsince this does not specify that the denominations current figures of these figures, so important for Christianity, are the ones they had from the beginning. What is evident in this work is that there were three gifts, and they are the ones known today: gold, frankincense and myrrh.
In this sense, it is worth highlighting the great importance that the number three has in the Christian religion. This is because this circumstance marked the number of wise men who would have gone to worship the Nio Jess moments after his birth. In this way, the legend of the wise men later known as Melchior Caspar and Balthazar. Furthermore, it should be mentioned that they are represented in the The Bible as wise men, not as part of royalty, as they are recognized today.
Italy, place of his first appearances in art
To know the place where they have appeared for the first time in a work of art, you do not have to leave Europa. More specifically, you should go to Italia. In Romain the catacombs of Priscilla, you can see the presence of a fresco from the 2nd and 3rd centuries. In the Greek chapel of this place, the existence of three figures approaching the Virgin Marywho has on his lap the Nio Jess.
Later, we must go back to the century VI to observe the first evidence of the names of the magicians. In the church of San Apolinar Nuovolocated in the Italian town of Rvena, there is a frieze that has the presence of the three figures. Dressed in oriental-themed clothing, three inscriptions can be seen at the top of this artistic element. These will mark the names that the wise men have and those that have survived to our days. In that sense, texts from the 19th century should also be mentioned. VI, in which derivations will appear. In what is known as Excerpts from Latin brbarito the wise men who were guided by a star to reach Bel they were known as Melchior, Gathaspa and Bithisarea.
It is not the only document in which evidence can be found that Melchior Caspar and Balthazar are the names of the three wise men. There is, on the other hand, a text originating from Armenia in which the names of these three figures are very similar to those used today to refer to these characters, fundamental in Christian mythology. In this case, it is an apocryphal gospel, which indicates that these were known as Balthazar, Melkon and Gaspard.
Europe, Asia and Africa, possible areas of origin
One of the questions that draw the most attention about the wise men is that they are known by the name of Their Majesties of the East. In the Apocryphal Gospels, it is pointed out that the three wise men came from the same number of areas, different from each other. According to the texts, they will be originating from Europe, Asia and Africa.
In fact, the Benedictine monk Bedaof the century XIVwould have defined these pillars of the Christmas as follows: Melchior, an old man with white hair and a long beard of the same color; Gaspar, younger and blonde; and Baltasar, a black man.
