What Is the Origin of the Three Wise Men?

The story of the Three Wise Men traces back to the birth of Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of Matthew, during the reign of Herod, a group of magi arrived from the East following a star, searching for the one called the King of the Jews. At the time, "magi" was the name given to astrologers and diviners.

Historians believe the Wise Men came from different regions (Asia, Africa, and Europe), though this likely symbolizes the three known races and continents of the era rather than literal geography. Many scholars today suggest they probably came from a region that is now Andalusia, Spain.

The Three Kings

Over time, three figures emerged with distinct names and gifts:

• Melchior: an elderly man with a white beard who brought gold, representing royal nature.
• Gaspar: a young blond man carrying frankincense, symbolizing glory, praise, and power.
• Balthasar: a Black man who brought myrrh, a symbol of human nature.

Names and Images

The earliest known images and names of the Three Wise Men are found in Ravenna, Italy, inside the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo. Mosaics there depict three men dressed in Persian-style clothing, with their names written above them.

Their relics are said to rest in Germany at Cologne Cathedral, built specifically to house them after Emperor Frederick Barbarossa brought them from Milan.