Friday, January 12, 2024

1400s The Adoration of the Magi


Paolo Uccello born Paolo di Dono as (Italian artist, from 1397 to 1475) Detail Adoration of the Magi (Quarate predella)

In Mark 15:23, Jesus is offered wine with myrrh before his crucifixion, because it was then believed to be a painkiller. Myrrh was also used at that time used in oil used for anointing kings, which is significant given that the Magi had come looking for the king of the Jews.

The Gospel of Matthew is the only one of the 5 gospels in The New Testament of the Bible to mention the Magi. Matthew 2:1–2 records that they came "from the east" to worship the "king of the Jews." The gospel does not mention the number of Magi. Still, most western Christian denominations traditionally portray them to have been 3 in number, based on the biblical statement that they brought 3 gifts on the day of Thr Epiphany, January 6th