...
In
Christianity, the
Biblical Magi singular:
magus), also known as the
Three Wise Men,
Three Kings, and
Three Magi, are distinguished foreigners who visit
Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of
gold,
frankincense, and
myrrh in homage to him.In
Western Christianity, they are commemorated on the
feast day of
Epiphany—sometimes called "Three Kings Day"—and commonly appear in the
nativity celebrations of
Christmas. In
Eastern Christianity, they are commemorated on
Christmas day.
The
Magi appear solely in the
Gospel of Matthew, which states that they came "from the east" (
Greek: ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν,
romanized:
apo anatolōn) to worship the "one who has been born king of the Jews". Their names, origins, appearances, and exact number are unmentioned and derive from the inferences or traditions of later Christians. In
Western Christianity and
Eastern Orthodox Christianity, they are usually assumed to have been three in number, corresponding with each gift;in
Syriac Christianity, they often number twelve.Likewise, the Magi's social status is never stated: although some
biblical translations describe them as
astrologers, they were increasingly identified as kings by at least the third century,> which conformed with Christian interpretations of
Old Testament prophecies that the
messiah would be worshipped by kings.
The mystery of the Magi's identities and background, combined with their theological significance, has made them prominent figures in the
Christian tradition; they are venerated as saints or even martyrs in many Christian communities, and are the subject of numerous artworks, legends, and customs. Both secular and Christian observers have noted that the Magi popularly serve as a means of expressing various ideas, symbols, and themes. Many scholars regard the Magi as
legendary rather than historical figures.
....
These two links are of interest as well. They continue that the actual number wasn't stated, only referred to "wise men" so may not have been 'royalty', and vaguely, "from the East".
