Visual Development

This is the story of the 3 wise men from the Gospel of Matthew. We all know the story, they see a star that leads them Bethlehem. But who are the 3 wise men? What was their journey like? What happened to them after?

My designs explore these questions. I am part Armenian and in my research I discovered that in the Armenian tradition, after delivering their gifts to Jesus the wise men stop in Western Armenia on their way back to Parthia. Gaspar, the eldest, passes away and is buried in the ancient city of Moush.

The number of wise men or “Magi” along with their origins/ethnicities is unknown. Uncovering an Armenian connection to this story got me thinking, what if they stop in Armenia because one of them is Armenian? The Magi was part of the Parthian Empire’s (Persia) royal court. They would inform the king on divine matters. I decided that Gaspar, being the oldest/wisest, would be a member of the Magi. But he would need a travel companion, someone who could help navigate him on his journey to Bethlehem. Melchior or Melkon (Western Armenian) would be that second “wise man.” He is an Armenian merchant. He would have extensive knowledge of how to navigate trade routes. Armenia, after all, was a key stop on the Silk Road in this time. Lastly, Balthasar would be our third “wise man,” a Cataphract warrior. Gaspar and Melkon would need a body guard to ensure the gifts made it to Jesus.