Today is the Epiphany also know as Three Kings Day, the day that marks the end of the Christmas season and observes when the infant Jesus was presented to the Magi or three wise men. Epiphany means an illumination or discovery. Legend is that the Magi were Persian priests “from the East” who read the stars for information from the gods. In other words, for prophecies. They were men of science and wealth and from reading the night sky, they determined a king was born. They came to pay homage to him, following the stars to know where to find him. Once they arrived, the wise men presented gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the family.
This scene is illustrated in this wood carving that came from a Sicilian cart I saw last week in the Museo Guttuso in Bagheria.
