Balthazar 1 of the 3 Magi: Biography, Origins, and the Legend of the King Who Brought Myrrh
Balthazar is the most famous of the three biblical Magi, along with Caspar and Melchior, the other three Magi who visited Jesus in the manger. He is unique in that he has a major controversy associated with him, and he was a character in a famous movie.
The Magi purportedly followed a star to the manger, but astronomers have posited other explanations. Balthazar was the King of Arabia and gave myrrh to Jesus. The gift is very significant. It is also thought that Balthazar lived to be 112 years old. He is commonly depicted as being black. Do you believe that all three Magi lived to more than 100 years old?
Balthazar Biography
We know little about the birth or life of Balthazar, as with the other Magi. It is safe to say that he was married and had children. The only Gospel that mentions the Magi is Matthew. However, that gospel does not name them or even tell where they were from.
Their names are written in a Greek manuscript from the year 500 that was translated into Latin and English. That manuscript is generally accepted as the source of the names of the Magi. In the Greek manuscript, he was called Bithisarea, which later evolved into Balthazar in which is what he is called today. This is an interesting fact; we do not even know his real name.
As one of the three Magi, Balthazar followed a star to the Roman Ruler of Judea, Herod the Great. Herod told the Magi to return to him when they had found the infant Jesus, because Herod wanted to kill him. When they arrived at the manger, the Wise Men presented their gifts to him. Balthazar gave myrrh, the spice used to embalm kings, perhaps foreshadowing Jesus’ death. In many ways, this was the most significant gift given to the Infant.
After his return to his kingdom (most likely Arabia) to avoid King Herod, because the Magi were warned in a dream not to return to him. It is said that he had Christmas with Melchior and Caspar, the other two Wise Men, in Armenia in 54. Balthazar died on January 6, 55. He was 112. All three of the Magi lived, purportedly, more than 100 years old.
Interestingly, two of the Magi, Balthasar and Gaspar, appeared in an 1880 novel, “Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ,” which has been made into several movies. They are in the film “Ben Hur ” from 1959, which you have probably seen; it is the most famous of the Ben Hur movies. It is a little strange that Melchior is not a character in the book or the movie, yet the book has been made into multiple movies.
Balthazar Blackface Controversy
He is subject to a major controversy. Some countries have a Christmas pageant that includes roles for the three Magi. In some countries, Balthazar is portrayed in blackface. This is strange, since he is thought to be the King of Arabia, but it aligns with how his color changed over time. Immigration increased the African population on the European continent. Campaigns in Spain pushed for a black person to play Balthazar, which could run counter to the tradition of local city councilors playing the role.
This racial controversy is unsettling because the infant Jesus eventually became a great integrator. He ate with tax collectors and prostitutes. So, he would certainly not approve of the strong racial undertones of the Balthazar story. It is important to note that this king’s racial identity evolved over time, and that evolution upset people. This makes him unique among the Magi.
Parting Thoughts
Balthazar is the third of the three wise men, or Magi, to be written about by Total Apex Media. In this sense, we now have a full set. It is troubling that the last two Magi are mentioned in only one of the four Gospels. It is also worth pointing out that we did not even know his name until 500, and that he changed color around the same time. That fact sparked controversy.
