Word: kaspar
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Truth & Beauty. The Middle Ages depicted the Magi as three kings, and even gave them sonorous, Eastern-sounding names-Kaspar, Melchior and Balthasar. In fact, the "kings" are as imaginary as their names. The Magi were simply astrologer-priests, possibly from Babylon, and their number is uncertain; early paintings of the Christmas scene show anywhere from two to seven of them. Scholars are divided about the origin and meaning of the star that lured them to Bethlehem. Many critics dismiss Matthew's account of it as pure myth; Smit believes that the star actually was a major conjunction...