‘Real story’ of the Magi found in Vatican archives

[rug]

Simon de Bruxelles
December 21 2011
12:01AM

An ancient document found in the Vatican archives has cast new light on the story of the Nativity and the Three Wise Men who came to offer gifts to the infant Jesus.

The Revelation of the Magi claims to be a first-hand account of their journey to pay tribute to the son of God but has only now been translated from ancient Syriac.

Brent Landau, professor of religious studies at the University of Oklahoma, spent two years deciphering the fragile manuscript. It is an 8th-century copy of a story first written down nearly half a millennia earlier, less than 100 years after the Gospel of Matthew, the original source for the Bible story.

The newly translated tale differs in major respects from Matthew’s very brief account.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/europe/article3264067.ece

[cleanhippie]

1. "It is an 8th-century copy of a story first written down nearly half a millennia earlier"

Hmm, only an 800 year old copy of an alleged first-hand account, no, wait. An 800 year old copy of a 100 year old second-hand account of an alleged occurrence in human history.

Yes, that is a very accurate historical document.

[moobu2]

2. The 3 wise-men story was also copied almost word for word from a much older Egyptian

religious Myth about Sirius and the 3 stars in Orion's Belt (aka the three kings, the three wise-men, the magi etc...) It's an old old astrological allegory.

[cleanhippie]

3. Precisely my point.

This document in no way, shape, or form, confirms the validity if the myth of the birth of jesus and the 3 magi.

[rug]

4. Where are you getting the notion that the book is an attempt to validate anything?

"Professor Landau said it is unknown who wrote the text but added: “There are two possible reasons why it was written. Firstly, because the Magi were mysterious figures and there was a great deal of curiosity about them but the second reason is that there was a group who envisioned themselves as the Magi’s intellectual and spiritual descendants.”

[lindysalsagal]

5. Cool. I didn't know that.

[deacon_sephiroth]

6. the "real story" will be titled: "Harry Potter and the 3 wise men." n/t