The Excerpta Latina Barbari composed in Alexandria, calls them Bithisarea, Melichior and Gathaspa or as we know them, Balthasar, Melchior and Caspar. Two centuries earlier a Syrian writer named them Hormizdah, King of Persia, Yazdegerd, King of Saba and Perozadh, King of Sheba. In contrast, Syriac Christians named the Magi, Larvandad, Gushnasaph, and Hormisdas. Ethiopian Christians called them Hor, Karsudan, and Basanater, while the Armenians said they were named, Kagpha, Badadakharida and Badadilma. (from Mystery of the Magi ch.3)
It's interesting because the three magi are a large part of the Biblical canon, but they also seem to be related to "idolatry" where the Israelites worshipped them as kings and the priests wanted them to stop doing that. This is probably where the idea of "Moloch" and "Baal" evil gods come from. Baal was just the king of Tyre. Moloch was just the king of Persia. Malech roughly means "my messenger" or "king". In the case of Ezra who delivered them from Babylon to Israel and helped write the Torah, it means something more like "my deliverer".
Another interesting note is the name Hormizdah / Hormisdas / Hor, which relates to Ahura Mazda in Zoroastrian, or Hermes in Greek. There was also "Thrice Great Hermes" (Hermes Trismegistus) which seems to also point at the three magi.
Finally the origin of the saying "Biblical canon" seems to refer to the word Canaan (Cain) where it all started. Like the Wedding in Cana being "Biblical canon".
You’re reply made me want to understand why the wise men are also referred to as Magi and if I was misunderstanding the story. What I found is in the Greek text Matthew uses the word Magi which was translated as wise men in English. Thanks again!
The three magi were historical figures, aka the "three kings":
Belshazzar, son of Nabonidas (Babylonian)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belshazzar
Caspar / Gaspar / Gastaphar / Gonodphores (Parthian)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondophares
Melchior probably Malachi / Ezra (Babylon):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malachi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra
Chalking the door means writing their initials "CMB":
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalking_the_door
It's interesting because the three magi are a large part of the Biblical canon, but they also seem to be related to "idolatry" where the Israelites worshipped them as kings and the priests wanted them to stop doing that. This is probably where the idea of "Moloch" and "Baal" evil gods come from. Baal was just the king of Tyre. Moloch was just the king of Persia. Malech roughly means "my messenger" or "king". In the case of Ezra who delivered them from Babylon to Israel and helped write the Torah, it means something more like "my deliverer".
Another interesting note is the name Hormizdah / Hormisdas / Hor, which relates to Ahura Mazda in Zoroastrian, or Hermes in Greek. There was also "Thrice Great Hermes" (Hermes Trismegistus) which seems to also point at the three magi.
Finally the origin of the saying "Biblical canon" seems to refer to the word Canaan (Cain) where it all started. Like the Wedding in Cana being "Biblical canon".
Bible mentions three gifts NOT the magi!
Thank you.
You’re reply made me want to understand why the wise men are also referred to as Magi and if I was misunderstanding the story. What I found is in the Greek text Matthew uses the word Magi which was translated as wise men in English. Thanks again!