#three wise men

[lionofchaeronea]

Detached leaf from a manuscript produced ca. 1240, depicting the arrival of the Magi to greet the infant Jesus and the Virgin Mary, who sits enthroned and crowned. The central figure points to the star that guided the three men to Bethlehem. Now in the Getty Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

[tomicscomics]

01/02/2025

Sometimes, less is myrrh.

___

JOKE-OGRAPHY:

In this Bible story (Matthew 2), three magi (or wise philosophers) use their knowledge of scripture and astrology to determine the birthplace of the prophesied King of the Jews. Even some gentiles were convinced this king would be a powerful and just ruler to all the nations, so when the magi realize His birth has come, they set out to bring a very particular set of gifts -- gold, frankincense, and myrrh -- which are references to more Jewish scripture (like Isaiah 60) as well as symbolic of Jesus's identity as king (gold), priest/divine (frankincense), and sacrifice (myrrh).

In this cartoon, the three magi present their gifts, but when the third magi announces his gift's symbolism (regarding the death and sacrifice of Jesus), the Holy Family looks at him in horror. Jesus is still very young at this point, and I've been informed that it is considered uncouth to bring up the eventual death of people when they've only JUST BEEN BORN. Anyway, the third magi complains that he "drew the short straw," implying that the three magi bought their three gifts together, then drew straws to see which of them would get to give the more or less desirable gifts. It is in this way that he came to be burdened with myrrh and its implications.

[spiritsdancinginthenight]

Three Magi Asleep Gislebertus, 1120-30 A.D. Cathedral of St. Lazare in Atun, France.

[seraphim-eternal]

And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.

Matthew 2:9

[escuerzoresucitado]

At St. Paul Monastery on Mt. Athos, are the Three Kings Gifts, given to baby Jesus by the Three Wise Men.

[albertonavajoart]

Three Kings

[daily-art-academy]

The Three Kings, kneeling with gifts

Joseph Christian Leyendecker, 1900

Oil on canvas, 55,9 × 38,1, National Museum of Art of Catalonia, Barcelona (Spain)

[atomic-chronoscaph]

Christmas card art by Ralph Hulett (1950s, 1960s)