Looking
at some paintings of the Three Kings, there are various notes that I noticed. All Kings are presented with elaborate outfits and costumes,
accompanied by a large retinue of attendants, servants and others caring for
their animals. All are kneeling down,
a posture of humility and respect, and some even prostrated, as the Gospels
relate.- Most are accompanied by camels, but some have horses, as well
as other animals like sheep and domestic dogs accompanying them. Since
they are referred to as Kings, most of them have crowns, but the majority of
the paintings show them in turbans, a popular headwear in the Middle East and
Far East countries. Even though the gifts
were for Jesus, the baby is always shown being held by Mary, as if she wants to
remain connected with him, as any mother would after giving birth - thus
showing respect to mother and child. One of the magi is frequently depicted as
black, the others dark skinned. Most artists would place the face of
friends to the Magi, people who were wealthy or good to the community, as a
recognition to their benevolence and generosity. Beggars are also frequently included in the
painting, as if to take advantage of the wealthy Kings, begging for something,
for anything. Other gifts are also
in the paintings, of lesser importance, like fruit, animals, jewellery,
clothing. The Star which the
Kings followed led them to the cave of Bethlehem, and even though it was not an
astronomical phenomena, it was a divine intervention, like the appearance of
angels, which were sent by God. The Three are referred
to as Wise Men, Astrologers, Kings or Magi (derivation of magicians) and their
names are interesting to discuss too……Melchior, a Persian scholar, Caspar (also Gaspar, Jaspar,) an Indian scholar,
and Balthazar (also Balthasar, an Arabian scholar.) In the East however, different names
appear – for example the Christian community in Syria, they are known as
Larvandad, Gushnasaph u Hormisdas, in Ethiopia they are known Hor, Karsudan u
Basanater, while the Armenian Christian call them Kagpha, Badadakharida u
Badalilma. - The gifts are also very
symbolic. All three gifts are ordinary offerings and gifts given to a king.
Myrrh being commonly used as an anointing oil, frankincense as a perfume, and
gold as a valuable element. The three gifts had a spiritual meaning: gold as a
symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense, as a symbol of deity, and myrrh (an
embalming oil) as a symbol of death. Sometimes this is described more generally
as gold symbolizing virtue, frankincense symbolizing holiness,
and myrrh symbolizing suffering.
