Many people are aware of the fact that we don’t know the exact number of Magi and that the number we use is based on the number of gifts. Also the idea of them being kings is also rather dubious and the term Magi is vague in that it covers a lot of areas between wise philosophers and astrologers.
Knowing this I can understand why the popular Epiphany hymn made the choice it did because “We indeterminate number of men with a vague occupational definition” just does not have the same ring to it.
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[…] the traditions that are familiar to me, and yet, not totally set in stone. For example, over at the Curt Jester he relates how we actually don’t know the precise number of wise men that visited the Christ […]
*Astrologers*?
But it’s got enough syllables that OCP would have a field day with it. Especially if you replace “men” with “people.” 😉