The Story of Three Wisemen and a Baby
The story of Three Wisemen and a Baby is a contemporary legend that features three wise men, or Magi, on a quest to find the baby Jesus, or Messiah. The legend has been adapted countless times in literature, film, and artworks. The original story dates back to the 5th century BC, yet has since evolved and gained widespread popularity.
The Original Story
The original story of Three Wisemen and a Baby is mentioned in the apocryphal Gospel of the Nativity of Mary, written in the 5th century BC. It tells a magical tale of three Magi travelling through a deep blue realm to find the King of the Jews so that they can honour and worship him. They eventually come to a stable in Bethlehem, where they discover a beautiful baby swaddled in swaddling clothes. This baby is the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The Wisemen honour the baby with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Adaptations
The story of Three Wisemen and a Baby has been adapted countless times throughout history. In the 16th century, the story was adapted into the iconic poem ‘The Three Kings‘ by German playwright and poet, Hans Sachs. This popular poem led to the story becoming a popular subject for theatrical plays and pieces of art.
Furthermore, in 1876, American composer, John Henry Hopkins Jr., composed a cantata named The Three Kings of Orient, based on the story. The cantata was so popular that it eventually became an annual church tradition around Christmas time. And in the 20th century, it has been adapted into a multitude of films, television shows, novels and literature, such as Dreamworks’ The Prince of Egypt (1998), Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009), and The Nativity Story (2006).
Conclusion
The story of Three Wisemen and a Baby is an iconic tale that has been around for centuries and adapted countless times to various forms of art and literature. It has been told in a multitude of different mediums and will be sure to remain a popular tale for many years to come.