Commonly identified as the King of Tarse and Egypt or Arabia , representing the gift of myrrh . The Journey and the Star Who Were the Magi and Why Do They Matter?

Traditionally the King of Sheba or India , associated with frankincense .

The story of the (also known as the Magi or Wise Men ) is a cornerstone of holiday tradition, yet many of its most famous details—like their names or even their number—come from centuries of lore rather than the original biblical text. Who Were the Three Kings?

Often depicted as a king from Arabia with long white hair, representing the gift of gold .

Though common tradition identifies three specific men, the only mentions "wise men from the East". The number "three" is an assumption based on the three gifts they presented: gold , frankincense , and myrrh . Over time, they were given identities to represent the known world: