Adoration of the Magi

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The Adoration of the Magi or Adoration of the Kings is a traditional name given to the subject in the Nativity of Jesus in art. Three Magi, represented as kings, especially in the West, having found Jesus by following a star, lay before him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and worship him. It is related in the Bible by Matthew 2:11: "On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another path". Who is Depicted? In the earliest depictions, the Magi are shown wearing Persian dress, often in profile, advancing in step with their gifts held out before them. These images relate to ancient Near Eastern cultures and adapt Late Antique poses for barbarians submitting to an Emperor. The earliest images come from catacomb paintings and sarcophagus reliefs of the 4th century. Crowns are first seen in the 10th century, mostly in the West, where their dress had by that time lost any Oriental flavor. Technical Specifications about the Statue A stele is a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected as a monument in ancient Western culture. Stelae may be used for funerary or commemorative purposes and often have text and/or ornamentation on their surface. The ornamentation may be inscribed, carved in relief, or painted onto the slab. Traditional Western gravestones are technically considered the modern equivalent of ancient stelae. More about the Artist We don't know who created this stele because it is very old, and there is no signature to identify the artist.