M. MIGNOZZI, Su un tema iconografico: l’Adorazione dei due, quattro, sei Magi, in “Vetera Christianorum” 49/2 (2012) , pp. 65-100, ISSN 1121-9696.

Between the 3rd and 5th centuries the iconography of the Adoration of the Magi underwent numerous transformations. One of the most important was the establishment of their number to three, according to the homilies of pope Leo the Great, in about the middle of the 5th century. Before then the art attests swings between a minimum of two and a maximum of six Magi, while, at the same time, the textual sources cite from a minimum of three (apocryphal gospels) to a maximum of twelve Magi (anonymous oriental legends). The cross-analysis of the sources confirms that the 5th century was the time when their number was definitely established but, curiously, does not evaluate literary testimonies that justify the existence of the iconography of two and four Magi, for which there are, however, several artistic statements. The study of the sculptural, pictorial and sumptuary sources, makes it possible to identify some guidelines.