What religion were the magi Especially astrology. Dec 12, 2022 · Many ancient authors who speak of people as magi also frequently do so in the context of religion and ritual. Dec 12, 2022 · The Twelve Disciples of Jesus would not have called themselves “Christians. We may form a conjecture by non-Biblical evidence of a probable meaning to the word magoi. And so, Luke and Matthew tell us, the true ‘king of the world’ was welcomed and honoured by both ordinary Jews (Luke 2:8-20) and extraordinary Gentiles. Nov 5, 2024 · Two of the gifts — frankincense and myrrh — were exotic spices more commonly found in Arabia. In older traditions of Mesopotamia, signs in the heavens were seen as a reflection or maybe an anticipation of earthly events but not causative, in the sense of the modern pseudo-science of astrology. Their religion recognized the primacy of the elements: earth, air, fire, and water. k. Who the magi were Non-Biblical evidence. to the sixth century A. ir Abstract: It is necessary to know Magi as they considerably influenced the history of Iran and the Zoroastrian religion. , in Herodotus 1:101), the ancient Greek transliteration of the Iranian original. A work called the Excerpta et Collectanea attributed to St. the three kings, a. They studied the stars and planets, interpreting the meaning behind cosmic events. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica 7:69, it states they were not followers. It is widely thought that the Magi were Zoroastrians who May 3, 2025 · The Western church assumes three gift-givers, from the three gifts, but in other accounts, the number varies: in Aramaic and Syriac Christianity, the Magi were twelve. g. Dec 29, 2020 · Christmas Day may be Dec. 11-15, etc. Jan 16, 2017 · The Magi, in particular, referred to the hereditary priest astrologer caste of the religion of the Medes, who were famed for their learning and knowledge of astrology. In time, they would find a niche for themselves in Persian society, with so many of them serving as priests that the words "priest" and "Magi" would almost become indistinguishable. They would have been very rich and held in high esteem by people who were not from their country or Dec 6, 2024 · At some point, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem, several Magi traveled to see him by following a unique star or light in the sky. Since the seventh century in the Western Church, the Magi have been identified as Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. For a gospel writer trying to establish Jesus Feb 20, 2021 · Xenophon s description of the Magians are the authorities of all religious matters in the Persian Achaemenid court. After some Magi, who had been attached to the Median court, proved to be expert in the interpretation of dreams, Darius the Great established them over the state religion of Persia. When God dispersed the Jews during the exile, many stayed behind in foreign lands. Note that Achaemenid Empire is also called the First Persian Empire. Where did the Magi come from? They came from the East, the most common understanding being Persia. This was still a great religion in the first century, so it would have suited the author of Matthew’s Gospel to have its priests come to worship Jesus. The Magi were known for their knowledge of astrology, dream interpretation, and divination. Contrary to nativity scenes, they found Jesus in a house, not a manger (v. [8] [9] Jan 7, 2018 · So while the Magi didn’t believe in the same God as the Hebrews, they were familiar with the idea of a monotheistic religion and may be why they were eager to adopt the new religion of Christianity. They provided priests for Persia, and, regardless of dynastic vicissitudes, ever kept up their dominating religious influence. There is the theory that Magi were followers of Zoroaster. The Time and Circumstances of their Visit. The Magi organized Persian society after the fall of Assyria and Babylon. When the gift of gold is included, these luxurious gifts certainly further indicate that these visitors were people of great wealth and power. . Bede (d. ” (See Luke 11:26. ” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem Dec 19, 2024 · The term Magi comes from the Greek word magoi, which refers to a group of learned men, often associated with astrology, astronomy, and the interpretation of dreams. Dec 7, 2024 · The term “Magi” itself is derived from the Greek word “magos,” which was used to describe Zoroastrian priests. From it the word magic is derived. Sep 10, 2024 · The Magi, often associated with the visit to the newborn Jesus, were primarily representatives of Zoroastrianism, the dominant religion of the Persian Empire. Peter and Marcellinus depicts two magi and at the cemetery of St. 25, but it’s not the end of Christmas story. Nov 8, 2024 · Majusi religions refer to the religious beliefs and practices of the Magi, an ancient priestly caste in Persia. Likewise, the Magi's social status is never stated: although some biblical translations describe them as astrologers, they were increasingly identified as kings by at least the third century, [2] which conformed with Christian interpretations of Old Testament prophecies that the messiah would be worshipped by kings. These Magi (otherwise known as “Wise Men”) were a special class of priests in the Persian Empire that had been around for a long time, at least since Daniel was appointed to be their leader by King Nebuchadnezzar (). C. Possibly, then, the wise men were Jewish or at least were strongly I. This ancient faith played a significant role in shaping the spiritual landscape of the region, emphasizing the duality of good and evil, and the importance of individual choice in the Magus, member of an ancient Persian clan specializing in cultic activities. The magi, better known as the three wise men, are some of the most well-known figures in the Bible. Likewise, Ernst Herzfeld (p. D. 11). Most likely, the magi knew of the writings of the prophet Daniel, who in time past had been the chief of the court seers in Persia. Non-Biblical Evidence We may form a conjecture by non-Biblical evidence of a probable meaning to the word magoi . Now that the Magi (a. Many later Greek written philosophical and occult works claimed Zoroaster (or Zarathustra) as their author. ’ These Zarathushti priests were guided to look for the King of the Jews by a miraculous stellar event, “His star” (Matthew 2:2) which traditionally became known as the “Star of Mar 19, 2025 · The three kings were religious scholars known as the Magi – revered Babylonian astronomers and astrologists. usb. Their name, pronounced "Mogh" by later Persians, and "Magh" by the ancients, signified "wise," which was the interpretation of it given by the Greek and Roman Magi and their Influence on the Zoroastrian Religion Khali Hakimifar 1-Assistant professor of department of comparative religions and mysticism, faculty of theology and Islamic studies, university of sistan and baluchestan Kh_hakimifar@theo. They provided priests for Persia, and Mar 30, 2023 · Explore the fascinating history and meaning of the Magi in the Bible. Dec 13, 2024 · They were followers of the Zoroastrian religion, and were responsible for the holy fires central to Zoroastrian worship. a. Aug 21, 2024 · The Magi were both real and symbolic. As real men, the three kings confirmed ancient prophecies about Jesus being the Messiah, and as symbols, they showed that he came to save all people, rich and poor, learned or unschooled, from anywhere in the world. They provided priests for Persia, and, regardless of dynastic vicissitudes, ever kept up their dominating religious 6 days ago · Magi were key figures in ancient Persian religious practices; They possessed extensive astronomical knowledge; Their religious significance influenced various cultures; The Magi’s journey to Bethlehem, as described in the Bible, showcases their cultural and religious importance. Nov 30, 2024 · In addition to the honor and status implied by the value of the gifts of the magi, scholars think that these three were chosen for their special spiritual symbolism about Jesus himself—gold representing his kingship, frankincense a symbol of his priestly role, and myrrh a prefiguring of his death and embalming—an interpretation made popular in the well-known Christmas carol “We Three Mar 30, 2025 · The Magi were considered to be the highest-ranking priests in this religion, and were responsible for performing many of the most important rituals and ceremonies. 2. ) The Twelve Disciples were Jewish followers of Jesus. Thanks to the role they play in the traditional Christmas story as mysterious visitors who bring gifts to the newborn Jesus, they are probably more familiar to the general public than far more important New Testament figures, such as the apostle Paul or John the Baptist. To the Greeks, the Zoroastrians and the magi were exotic objects of fascination. Jan 6, 2024 · One of the oldest religions in the world, Zoroastrianism uses this suburban former movie theater as its only European place of worship. Nov 23, 2021 · The late Roger Price, who led the Chichester Christian Fellowship, did some wonderful research into these mysterious figures. The magi were counselors, not kings, and while they bore three gifts, their number (unstated) was large enough to cause a stir in Jerusalem (Matt. In Persian society, the Magi were often part of a priestly class, specializing in fields such as astrology, medicine, and natural sciences. Herodotus (I, ci) is our authority for supposing that the Magi were the sacred caste of the Medes. 301) wrote that the Magi were a class, not a tribe, and neither were they Zoroastrian. The Magi appeared frequently in ancient literature, and were well known to the middle-eastern nations of Jesus’ day. Bartlett Professor of Religious Studies Hamilton College January 2010. Astrology: The Magi were also known for their knowledge of astrology, which was a highly respected science in ancient times. By Jay Williams Walcott D. The ancient Magi were a hereditary priesthood of the Medes (known today as the Kurds) credited with profound and extraordinary religious knowledge. However, the biblical account in the Gospel of Matthew neither mentions ‘kings’ nor specifies their number. The Magi were a priestly caste for centuries before the incarnation, originating from Media. 6, known as the feast of the What of the magi? As prominent members of one of the world’s oldest civilisations, Persia’s priestly class were recognised across the ancient Mediterranean as authorities on matters mystical and religious (for good or ill, depended on local opinion regarding the Persians). Mar 1, 2022 · Who were the three Magi? The Magi were the visitors who came to Bethlehem to worship the newly-born Jesus of Nazareth in the gospel of Matthew. Magi (PLUR), [a] or magus (SING), [b] is the term for priests in Zoroastrianism and earlier Iranian religions. The Bible doesn’t mention how many Magi there were. ). I. The Persian Magi were a priestly class in ancient Persia who played a significant role in religious rituals, ceremonies, and spiritual practices. These men would have been well-educated and could have been taught astrology, the belief that the way celestial bodies move dictate . Besides, the Magi were not only expert performers of worship rites but also scholars, tutors and teachers of sciences. Pagan religions in general were based on pantheism, necromancy, sorcery, astrology, magic, and the occult. the three wise men) have once again arrived to offer their gifts and then returned home another way, it is, perhaps, time to ask, “who were those fellows and what were they up to?” Oct 24, 2023 · We know that the magi were wise men from "the East," most likely Persia, or modern-day Iran. Why did they come to celebrate Jesus? Herodotus notes that the magi were one of six Median groups - a tribe that specialized in hereditary priestly duties and who assumed the duties of the athravan. The individual names most likely come from a later manuscript; they are Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthasar. The manga adopts the flavor of a Babylonian creation story where a will-less Chaos is tamed by, instead of Marduk, the Biblical King… Dec 16, 2020 · Historians note that in Yemen, for example, there were kings who adhered to Judaism from about 120 B. These learned men were highly respected for their wisdom and were believed to possess the ability to discern divine messages through celestial events. Jan 18, 2018 · Xenophon, in his Cyropaedia (Education of Cyrus) writes that Magi were ancient priests. The Time of the Magi: When Magic, Religion, and Science Were One Article In Magus —“a superb account of the astrologers, alchemists, and sorcerers who practiced ‘natural magic’ in Europe from the Middle Ages through early modernity” ( Publishers Weekly )—historian Anthony Grafton resituates these powerful figures in the social Jan 5, 2025 · But the Greek word comes from the ancient Persian “maguš”which indicated the priests of the Zoroastrianismthe religion practiced in ancient Persia, before the advent of Islam. Jan 18, 2020 · Pagan nations were routinely guided by magic, divination, and occult practices. Originally a Median tribe, the Magi were a hereditary priesthood, often possessing great political power, in the Median, Babylonian, Persian, and Parthian empires. Jan 6, 2022 · The traditional belief that there were three wise men is a development based on the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh recorded in Matthew 2:11. 735) wrote, “The magi were the ones who gave gifts to the Lord. The earliest known use of the word magi is in the trilingual inscription written by Darius the Great , known as the Behistun Inscription . , xxxix, 3, 13, in The Magi again were granted the highest religious and governmental powers. 3 His description of the magi (Gk. Dec 1, 2011 · The Magi were familiar with these religious perspectives, as well as the Messianic prophecies contained in the Hebrew Scriptures, particularly since many of the Jews taken to Babylon as captives five hundred years earlier remained in Persia and continued to worship their God. May 18, 2018 · In short, they were a theosophical college; and either its professors were indifferently "magi," or magicians, and "wise men" or they were distinguished into two classes by those names. Both nobility and laity followed their instructions in spiritual/religious matters. Domitilla, four. This means the wise men traveled 800 to 900 miles to see the Christ child. Learn about the different theories on who the Magi were and the significance of their visit to the newborn Jesus. Jan 4, 2025 · The plural magi comes from the Greek magos (singular), which has various meanings in antiquity but, when some magi are mentioned in the Book of Daniel, they get lumped together with “wise men” and enchanters. In common with other primitive religions, Magian rituals involved animal sacrifice that could only be conducted in the presence of a Magi. Magi were magicians and sorcerers in the ancient Near Eastern world. It is disputed whether the magi were from the beginning Herodotus (I, ci) is our authority for supposing that the Magi were the sacred caste of the Medes. Let us explore the historical and cultural They were astronomers and astrologers, who carefully watched the sky. Zoroastrianism was reinstated as the state religion and this situation prevailed until the empire fell to Islam in the 7th cent. Dec 8, 2024 · The image of the three kings visiting the infant Jesus is one of the most iconic scenes of the Nativity story. Since households came to the fire-houses or atash-gahs to light their home fires, the athravan or magi must have come to know the community members, as well as their successes and problems. The Church also assumes that the Magi were male, but this assumption has no basis in fact: the Gospel of Matthew does not specify their gender. There is evidence that the ancient pagan religions developed later than primitive monotheism and had degenerated from it. They played a significant role in the development of Zoroastrianism, one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions. In Western Christianity, this event is celebrated at Epiphany on January 6th. In many Western Christian traditions, there are 12 days of Christmas, culminating around Jan. The Magi were closely associated with the ancient Iranian religion of Zoroastrianism, which was founded by the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra) around the 6th century BCE. But when the Slaughter of the Magi happened, they were still newcomers in a foreign land. The magi were priests of the Zoroastrian religion of the Persians, widely respected for their wisdom (“Wise Men”) and moral standards. Dec 6, 2024 · The religious leaders in Jerusalem had the right information, but did nothing (Matthew 2:4-6), while the Magi went to great lengths to act on the limited information they had. Who the Magi were; II. The Birth of the King Oct 17, 2024 · The Magi Visit the Messiah: Matthew 2 "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him. Dec 26, 2024 · Rather than magicians in the modern sense, these individuals were scholars who studied the stars, interpreted dreams, and served as religious advisors to royalty. Mar 30, 2025 · The Magi were considered to be the highest-ranking priests in this religion, and were responsible for performing many of the most important rituals and ceremonies. The identification of the wise men as kings may have developed from a reading of Psalm 72. From serving as Zoroastrian priests, experts on the occult sciences - especially astrology - and m Dec 17, 2023 · Their religious practices and use of astrology caused derivatives of the term Magi to be applied to the occult in general and led to the English term ‘magic. The name is the Latinized form of magoi (e. The Magi were the sacred caste of the Medes from ancient Media (inhabitants of Persia), who were responsible for the religious and funerary practices, and who eventually accepted the Zoroastrian religion. They recognized only personal gods and did not worship images. The Magi are famed as ancient keepers of esoteric wisdom. WHO THE MAGI WERE A. Unlike accounts that were written hundreds of years later, the Gospel of Matthew was written in the first century, likely in late AD 50 or early 60. ac. Jun 29, 2018 · They were a group of people from Media with a unique set of religious beliefs. μάγος, magos) provides three clues that might help us with their identity: Magi, in Christian tradition, the noble pilgrims ‘from the East’ who followed a miraculous guiding star to Bethlehem, where they paid homage to the infant Jesus as king of the Jews. Historically, the Magi were a priestly class from the Median or Persian Empire, known for their wisdom and expertise in various fields, including religion and the sciences. Instead, it speaks of ‘Magi’ from the East, learned astrologers or scholars who followed a star to honor the newborn Jesus. Discover the latest archaeological and historical research on this enigmatic group of wise men. Dec 22, 2022 · Leaving aside later traditions and legends, I believe the earliest written description of the magi is the most accurate. Because Matthew doesn’t bother to say exactly who these visitors were supposed Nov 7, 2017 · If you have watched any of the three installments in the series Magi you may or may not have noticed how the whole thing is a mishmash of religious and literary references. Anything very unusual was considered an omen, so the star must have been both rare and visually spectacular. Who were Dec 14, 2024 · The apocryphal Revelation of the Magi narrates the mystical origins of the magi, their encounter with the luminous star and their journey to Bethlehem to worship the child. Sep 21, 2015 · According to Giuseppe Messina’s theory, the Magi were Zoroaster’s disciples and a Persian estate, not a Median tribe (Messina, pp. 2:3). What Religion Were the Magi? Astrologers were not followers of God, but may have followed a monotheistic (one god) religion that was common in the East. The Magi in Matthew’s gospel were not Jewish, and there is no evidence that they ever became Christians. To the head of this caste, Nergal Sharezar, Jeremias gives the title Rab-Mag, “Chief Magus” (Jer. Dec 17, 2022 · Popular Christian images of the magi clash with Matthew’s account. These priests they were considered experts in astrology and magicwhich would explain their connection with the “star” they follow in the Gospel story. hztkku ctllxle orsnguji mlf mxwok patnms aesk ndbv bkjw izyque