These beautiful Antique Gold Nativity Ornaments are 4¾ inches tall and 3¾ inches across. The background consists of several buildings with medieval style domed roofs and an archway in the very center. The buildings are antique gold with patches of gold leaf. The battlements and archway are decorated with clear and amber colored jewels. In this ornament the Three Wise Men are gathered around the Baby Jesus. Select this link to view our Nativity Ornaments.Meaning of Gifts of Three Wise Men.
Many different theories of the meaning and symbolism of the gifts have been advanced. They generally break down into two groups:
- They are all ordinary gifts for a king — myrrh being commonly used as an anointing oil, frankincense as a perfume, and gold as a valuable.
- They are prophetic — gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense (an incense) as a symbol of priestship, and myrrh, used as an embalming oil, as a symbol of death.
- Sometimes these are described more generally as gold symbolizing virtue, frankincense symbolizing prayer, and myrrh symbolizing suffering.
The Three Wise Men.
On a hillside overlooking Bethlehem, shepherds were watching their sheep when they saw a bright star in the sky above them. At first they were afraid but an angel appeared and told them not to be afraid and that he had good news. The angel said the Jesus had been born and they would find Him in a manger in Bethlehem. Select this link to view our Nativity Christmas Ornaments.
They were filled with joy to see the baby Jesus and knelt down and worshipped Him. They told Mary and Joseph about the angel and that they knew Jesus was to be the Savior of the world. Select this link to view our Three Wise Men with Baby Jesus.
Three wise men also saw the star and heard the news about the baby Jesus, so they went to Jerusalem to see King Herod, thinking he could tell them where to find the baby. When they asked to see the King of the Jews, the king was angry and thought the new king might be a threat to his power, so he tricked the wise men and told them to tell him when they found the baby so that he could go and worship the child as well. Select this link to view our Three Kings Ornament.
The wise men followed the star to Bethlehem, where they knelt down and worshipped Jesus and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Later an angel warned the wise men that King Herod really wanted to kill Jesus and for them not to go back to Jerusalem. Select this link to view our Christmas Jewelry.
The wise men obeyed the angel and returned to their own lands. And Joseph and Mary took the baby Jesus to Egypt. Select this link to view our Nativity Ornament Sets.