Magi

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The Magi were followers and priests of the Zoroastrarian religion. The English word "magic" derives from these people, in reference to the rituals performed by them.

[edit] The Magi in the Bible

The Bible, specifically the Gospel of Matthew, refers to Magi, Kings, or Wise Men who visited Jesus a few weeks after he was born. The third translation is probably the most accurate, as the men appeared to be astrologers, not priests or kings. They gave the baby Jeebus gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

[edit] How many Magi?

Don't believe what the songs say. The bible never, ever, ever says how many Magi there were. There were three gifts, and tradition assumes one Magus per gift, but screw tradition. Clearly we need to teach the controversy and tell the children that there was a fourth Magus, who was a bit skint and had to chip in on the frankincense instead.

[edit] Other Magi

In the Greek of the New Testament, the same Greek word (μάγος) identifies Simon Magus, a sorcerer named in Acts 8, who wishes to buy the powers of the apostles, as well as Elymas the magus (the King James Version here translates μάγος as 'sorcerer') struck blind in Acts 13.

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