THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM:AN ASTRONOMICAL

ANDHISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Information & Interpretationby

Susan S. Carroll

Star of Bethlehem: Bethlehem

Star of Bethlehem: Classical Views

Giotto Koln Dom Modern VersionComet of 1301 Cologne Cathedral

Star of Bethlehem: Stylized Cards

Star of Bethlehem: A Book

The Nativity in the Gospels• Matthew Written 50 to 70 AD

– This narrative is much less detailed than Luke• No mention of a census or trip by Joseph & Mary• No mention of shepherds or angels

• Luke Written 58 to 70 AD– This narrative is much more detailed than Matthew

• No mention of the star or of Magi• No mention of Herod slaughtering innocent toddlers• No mention of Joseph, Mary & Jesus fleeing into Egypt

• Both agree on some points– Jesus was born in Bethlehem– It was near the end of the reign of King Herod– Jesus’birth announced by a heavenly messenger– Jesus’actual home town was Nazareth

Scholarly Opinions On Jesus’Birth• Time frame

– Sometime between 7 BC and 1 BC

– A number of historical markers help narrow the gap

• Some scriptural documents

• Some incredibly spectacular astronomical events

• Some secular documents

Rome at the Time of Jesus’ Birth• History

– Roman Empire in unparalleled peace & prosperity– 2 BC: Rome celebrated 750th year since foundation– In August of 2 BC, great festivals in Rome

• Leadership– 25th year of Caesar Augustus as Roman Emperor– In 2 BC, Augustus dedicated the new Forum– In 2 BC, Augustus was named “Pater Patriae”

• Highest honor that could be bestowed on any Roman• A decree required people to register their approval

– All Jews descended from the great Jewish royal families– Oath took place in the late summer and early fall of 3 BC

– In 2 BC, Augustus was named “Prince of Peace”

Caesar Augustus

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Statue-Augustus.jpg

From the Roman Martyrology• In the twenty-fourth day of the month of December; • In the year five-thousand one-hundred and ninety-nine from the creation

of the world, when in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth;

• In the year two-thousand nine-hundred and fifty-seven from the flood; • In the year two-thousand and fifty-one from the birth of Abraham; • In the year one-thousand five-hundred and ten from the going forth of the

people of Israel out of Egypt under Moses; • In the year one-thousand and thirty-two from the anointing of David as

king; • In the sixty-fifth week according to the prophecy of Daniel; • In the one-hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad; • In the year seven-hundred and fifty-two from the foundation of the city of

Rome; • In the forty-second year of the reign of the Emperor Octavian Augustus; • In the sixth age of the world, while the whole Earth was at peace—

JESUS CHRIST eternal God and the Son of the eternal Father, willing to consecrate the world by His gracious coming, having been conceived of the Holy Ghost, and the nine months of His conception being now accomplished, was born in Bethlehem of Judah of the Virgin Mary, made man. The birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the flesh.

Herod the Great Was King of Judea• Caesar Augustus appointed Herod King• Herod was…

– An Idumean by birth Not Jewish– A commoner by birth Not royalty– Therefore Herod was hated by the Jewish people

• Herod’s father overthrew the Hasmoneans– A very popular Jewish royal family

• Herod’s second wife Mariamne was Hasmonean– Mariamne bore Herod two sons whom he executed– Herod executed Mariamne & her mother– Just before death, Herod executed his firstborn son

Herod the Great

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fd/HerodtheGreat1.jpg

Astronomical Events at Jesus’ Birth• Background

– Widespread interest in astrology & astronomy• Astrological matters were considered reliable indicators• One notable exception to this were the Jews

– Gentile forms of astrology were blasphemy– Genesis 1:14 — God placed the stars in the sky as signs

– No clear distinction between astronomy & astrology• Practitioners

– Group that garnered most respect were the Magi• “Magi” is plural for “Magus”

– Origins of the Magi are not entirely clear• Believed to have beginnings with Zoroaster ~ 1000 BC

– A religious leader and teacher in the region of Persia– A king who would raise the dead & establish a kingdom of peace– This king would come forth from the descendants of Abraham

The Magi• Three interesting facts

– Not just astrologers; professional astronomers too– Important members of royal courts

• Often served as emissaries to their king employers

• Magi from the East were held in high esteem

– Their secrets were reserved for royalty

• Two myths overturned– The Magi were not kings– The Magi were not magicians

A Byzantine Depiction of the Magi

Triple Conjunction of Jupiter & Saturn• Background

– Jupiter was known as the “planet of Kings”– Saturn was known as the “protector of the Jews”

• All three conjunctions occurred in Pisces– A constellation associated with the Hebrew nation– A phenomenon that occurs once ~ every 900 years

• All three conjunctions occurred in 7 BC– May– September– December

• Interpretation– Could be understood as announcing a royal birth

A Conjunction of Three Planets• February of 6 BC

– Jupiter, Mars & Saturn came within 8° of each other

• ~ 16 times the diameter of the Moon

– This event occurs only once ~ every 800 years

• Combined sequence of events ~ every 7,200 years

• This was predicted by Arabian astronomers

– It would have had great significance to astrologers

Yet More Amazing Celestial Events• An astounding 18 month period from 3 to 2 BC

– Most remarkable period in the last 3,000 years– Inspired wonderful & mystical interpretations– Entire Roman empire was in celebration

• Interpreted by Romans as approval of their celebrations• The events

– 19 May 3 BC Saturn & Mercury close• Saturn moved eastward through the stars

– 12 June 3 BC Saturn & Venus close– 12 Aug 3 BC Jupiter & Venus close before

sunrise• Occurred in Cancer, the “end”sign of the Zodiac

– 17 June 2 BC Jupiter & Venus joined again• Occurred in Leo, the “beginning” sign of the Zodiac• Leo’s Regulus was considered the “King Star”

Jupiter Circles Regulus• Stage 1

– 12 August 3 BC

Jupiter & Regulus 19.8’apart–

Jupiter stops prograde motion• “King planet” near “King Star” in “King constellation”

• Stage 2– 1 December 3 BC Jupiter stops retrograde motion– 17 February 2 BC

Jupiter & Regulus 51.0’ apart• Stage 3

– 8 May 2 BC

Jupiter & Regulus 43.2’ apartJupiter resumes prograde motion

• Interpretation– The King planet was looping around the King star

• Signaled that a great king was about to appear

Reasons for Going to Judea• A prophesy made by Daniel

– Written between 605 BC and 530 BC– Stated that Jerusalem would be rebuilt

• After the Babylonians destroyed it in the 6th century BC• 490 years until a messianic kingdom would emerge• This would occur in the region of Palestine

• The Magi knew about Daniel’s prophecies– Daniel was a Magus ! ! !

• Daniel was taken as a Jewish slave– Captured as a young boy & taken to Babylon– Daniel served the Babylonian kings– Daniel became a Master Magus– Daniel’s reputation was known throughout the “civilized” world

• The Romans also knew Daniel’s prophecies– Nero was advised to move from Rome to Jerusalem

The Travels of the Magi• Some probable characteristics

– They traveled with much pomp and circumstance• Persons of their stature would not have traveled by camel• They would have made the journey on horseback

– Legend of “three kings” due to three different gifts • Gold, frankincense & myrrh• Traditional gifts to every king

• Biblical accounts– Translations

• King James “we have seen his star in the east”• More accurate is “we have seen his star at its rising”

– A possible final impetus to make the journey• 17 June 2 BC

Jupiter again joined with Venus

Jupiter: The Common Thread• What the Magi saw from home

– Following 27 August 2 BC• Jupiter continued its motion westward each morning

– Viewed by the Magi at their regular pre-dawn observations• This westward motion would have led them to Jerusalem

• What the Magi saw from Jerusalem– Due to retrograde motion, Jupiter seemed to “stop”

• Directly south of Jerusalem over Bethlehem• It became stationary at dawn on 25 December 2 BC

– The planet came to a stop in the constellation Virgo• At the Winter Solstice, the Sun was also “standing still”

– Jupiter remained stationary for 6 days• Jupiter in the “womb” of the constellation Virgo

An Icon of the Magi & the Epiphany

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/jsuebersax/st_icon.jpg

Merry Christmas~ ~ ~

Happy New Year