Wise Men

E157032

The Wise Men, or Magi, are figures from the New Testament who are said to have traveled from the East to pay homage to the infant Jesus, traditionally depicted as three kings bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

All labels observed (2)

Label Occurrences
Three Wise Men 7
Wise Men canonical 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Magi
New Testament characters
biblical figures
visitors of the infant Jesus
associatedWith Zoroastrian priesthood (in some traditions)
astrology
dream interpretation
avoided returning to King Herod
broughtGift frankincense
gold
myrrh
describedIn Gospel of Matthew
feastDay January 6
followed Star of Bethlehem
giftSymbolism frankincense symbolizes divinity
gold symbolizes kingship
myrrh symbolizes suffering and death
hasAlternativeName Kings from the East
Magi
Three Kings
Magi
surface form: Three Magi

Three Wise Men
iconographyFeature depicted as men of different ages
often depicted as from different continents
shown presenting gifts to Mary and the Christ Child
inspired Christmas carols
languageOfTerm Greek
mentionedIn Matthew 2:1–12
numberInBiblicalText unspecified
numberTraditionally three
originalMeaningOfTitle learned men or astrologers
paidHomageTo Child Jesus
surface form: infant Jesus
recognizedAs Gentile worshipers of Jesus
returnedTo their own country by another route
roleInNarrative confirm Jesus as king
contrast with hostility of Herod
subjectOf the carol "We Three Kings"
symbolize the nations coming to Christ
termInGreek μάγοι (magoi)
traditionallyAssociatedWith Epiphany
traditionallyRegardedAs kings
traditionalNames Balthazar
Caspar
Melchior
traveledFrom the East
veneratedIn Christianity
visited Bethlehem
warnedIn a dream

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (8)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Magi alsoKnownAs Wise Men
Magi alsoKnownAs Wise Men
this entity surface form: Three Wise Men
Three Kings Day associatedWith Wise Men
this entity surface form: Three Wise Men
Forte dos Reis Magos namedAfter Wise Men
this entity surface form: Three Wise Men
Caspar partOf Wise Men
this entity surface form: Three Wise Men
Melchior memberOf Wise Men
this entity surface form: Three Wise Men
Jasper associatedWith Wise Men
this entity surface form: Three Wise Men
The Nativity Story portrays Wise Men
this entity surface form: Three Wise Men