Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh
Standard gifts to honour kings
Offered to deities in the ancient world
Gold: precious metal
Frankincense: perfume/ incense
Myrrh: anointing oil
These same were gifts offered
By King Seleucus 2nd Callinicus
To the God Apollo
At the temple in Miletus
In 243 B.C.E.
The book of Isaiah 60:6
Describing Jerusalem's glorious restoration
Tells of nations and kings who will come and
"Bring gold and Frankincense
and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord"
From Matthew's gospel
We do not know the names or number
Of the Magi...but many believe
That the number of gifts gives us
The tradition of the three wise men
These three gifts were chosen
For their special spiritual symbolism
Of Jesus himself...
Gold; representing kingship
Frankincense: symbol of his priestly role
Myrrh: a prefiguring of his death and embalming
This interpretation made famous by "We three kings"
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