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The
three Wise Men (1st century C.E.)
from the East came to
offer the gift of gold, myrrh and frankincense to the new born baby Jesus
in the manger (see illustration below.)
Although their names are not mentioned in the Bible, later traditions
identify them as Melchior (meaning "king city" in the old semitic
language), Caspar (meaning "treasurer" in Persian, from which is derived
the name of the gemstone jasper), and Balthazar (meaning "Baal
protect the king" in Phoenician, Baal being the name of one of their local
deities.)
  
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