It’s interesting that the tradition of the three Magi has lasted through the ages, but there’s no evidence anywhere to indicate that there were only three of them.
Yes, there is a story about a 4th wise man who missed meeting Jesus that was written by Henry Van Dyck.
True enough. And the three gifts’ allusion to Jesus and his ultimate fate is fascinating. Gold is a symbol of purity and kingship, Frankincense was used to purify the Tabernacle and the Temple, and Myrrh was used in ancient times along with natron in the embalming process and as an analgesic. It was offered to Jesus along with wine prior to his crucifixion. The latter two elements are derived from plants in the south Arabian Peninsula (Yemen), eastwards from Judea.