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To: the_Watchman
More than likely the Magi or Wisemen came from the southern region what is now the Sultanate of Oman in an area called the Dhofar region where the rare Frankincense and Myrrh trees are located. Incidentally, the US Space Shuttle program located an abandoned city called Ubar which was located on the ancient Frankincense trail, which was visible from space (path created by camels). A lucrative trade existed during the time of Christ for the merchants of frankincense in the Dhofar region.

Frankincense can be purchased in bulk in the souk (marketplace) of Muscat, Oman near the coast. I personally purchased an old silver Omani incense burner in the marketplace along with some frankincense and myrrh. Very interesting place with old artifacts for sale.

Job from the Bible is also buried in Oman.

In Oman there is an expensive perfume made from frankincense called Amouage which means "wave" in Arabic.
11 posted on 12/23/2003 11:51:28 PM PST by Mel Gibson (Guessing is cheap, guessing wrong is expensive.)
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To: Mel Gibson
Arabs were barbarians.. not much has changed... Persians had much to offer the Bible and the Word.

Cyrus Charter of Human Rights Cylinder

First Charter of Human Rights

The charter of Cyrus the Great, a baked-clay Aryan language (Old Persian) cuneiform cylinder, was discovered in 1878 in excavation of the site of Babylon. In it, Cyrus the Great described his human treatment of the inhabitants of Babylonia after its conquest by the Iranians.
The document has been hailed as the first charter of human rights, and in 1971 the United Nations was published translation of it in all the official U.N. languages. "May Ahura Mazda protect this land, this nation, from rancor, from foes, from falsehood, and from drought". Selected from the book "The Eternal Land".

I am Cyrus.
King of the world. When I entered Babylon... I did not allow anyone to terrorise the land... I kept in view the needs of Babylon and all its sanctuaries to promote their well-being... I put an end to their misfortune.

From The First Charter of the Rights of Nations

Cyrus, The Great, 539 B.C.
Founder of The First Persian Empire

Cyrus The Great
Cyrus (580-529 BC) was the first Achaemenid Emperor. He founded Persia by uniting the two original Iranian Tribes- the Medes and the Persians. Although he was known to be a great conqueror, who at one point controlled one of the greatest Empires ever seen, he is best remembered for his unprecedented tolerance and magnanimous attitude towards those he defeated.
Upon his victory over the Medes, he founded a government for his new kingdom, incorporating both Median and Persian nobles as civilian officials. The conquest of Asia Minor completed, he led his armies to the eastern frontiers. Hyrcania and Parthia were already part of the Median Kingdom. Further east, he conquered Drangiana, Arachosia, Margiana and Bactria. After crossing the Oxus, he reached the Jaxartes, where he built fortified towns with the object of defending the farthest frontier of his kingdom against nomadic tribes of Central Asia.

The victories to the east led him again to the west and sounded the hour for attack on Babylon and Egypt. When he conquered Babylon, he did so to cheers from the Jewish Community, who welcomed him as a liberator- he allowed the Jews to return to the promised Land. He showed great forbearance and respect towards the religious beliefs and cultural traditions of other races. These qualities earned him the respect and homage of all the people over whom he ruled.

13 posted on 12/24/2003 12:53:43 AM PST by freedom44
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To: Mel Gibson
God calls King Cyrus of Persia by name before he is even born to serve Him

God Calls King Cyrus by Name

This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things. "You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it; I, the LORD, have created it. Isaiah 45:1-8
14 posted on 12/24/2003 12:55:18 AM PST by freedom44
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To: Mel Gibson
Frankincense can be purchased in bulk in the souk ......

In Dammam and most any other souk in Saudi Arabia.

I have both purchased in bulk.

I would argue that the posession of the gifts have nothing to do with the source and trhe Magi were from a more civilized location, probably Persia.
19 posted on 12/24/2003 5:36:16 AM PST by bert (Have you offended a liberal today?)
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