No and Yes 


The carving can be found in the church of Saint Gregory the Great in Kirk Newton, Northumberland near the Scottish Border.

 

Scholars estimate that it dates back to the eleventh century. If that is so then when it was carved the design was already old-fashioned.


By that time the custom was to show the Magi as Kings wearing crowns.


Rather than crowns, these visitors seem to be wearing close fitting hats that curve around their heads with perhaps a slight point towards the top.

 

In earlier times this was a common way of showing the Magi.

This is a mosaic that can be seen in Ravenna, Italy made in the 6th Century. The wear what are called ‘Phrygian Caps’.

 

In the ancient world this was seen as an eastern head dress and so it was how the Magi were commonly depicted.

 

Notice also that the clothes they wear could be easily confused with some kind of skirt or kilt.


Here is a detail of an Anglo-Saxon carving of the Magi on a box called the Franks Casket which can be seen in the British Museum.

 

It dates from the late 8th Century. Notice the caps and the skirts.


So the Magi were probably not from Scotland. But it does make us think about from where those visitors came.

 

The Gospel says they were from the East. When you think about it we all live east of somewhere; after all the world is round.

 

Traditionally the Church thinks of these travellers who brought gifts to the Infant King as representing all of us. They stand for us as we bring to the Lord the gift of ourselves, our love and our service.

 

So it doesn’t matter where they came from.

But…

 

There is another curiosity about this way of showing the Magi.


The Persian King Khosrow II invaded the Byzantine Empire in the 7th Century destroying everything as he conquered.

 

He captured the cities of the Holy Land one by one and being a Zoroastrian any Christian churches he came across he destroyed.

 

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was knocked down and the relic of the True Cross was taken as a spoil of war. 

The story goes that when they arrived at Bethlehem, Khosrow II ordered that the Church of the Nativity should be spared destruction. At that time above the entrance there was a mosaic of the Magi visiting the Stable.


They were wearing the clothes we have been thinking about (including those hats!). They were similar to ones worn by Zoroastrian Priests and so the Magi were identified as being from Persia.

 

The mosaic is long gone. But the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is still substantially the one built in the 6th Century. The other Holy Places had to be rebuilt.

Did you work it out?


We had two winners giving the answer of Kirknewton Church Northumberland :



Well done both of you.



We had one honourable mention who suggested a location that was so close to where it can be found:



Well done to you.



Thank you for all those that took part.