Balthazar, Caspar and Malchior, the three kings of biblical fame who followed the star to visit the new born baby in Bethlehem are reputed to have come from the east. The peop
…le who wrote this story were Jews, and the strangest looking people they had ever seen at that time were probably Romans. Since the kings are not described as being particularly unusual looking, perhaps apart from their clothing, we could probably discount that were Asian in appearance. Possibly of Indian origin, but a trip of that magnitude in those days based on a speculation seems a bit unlikely, moreso since they were neither robbed or murdered. Perhaps most likely is that they originated from one of the areas currently occupied by Iraq, Iran or somewhere thereabouts. Most pictorial representations of them suggest to me that they may have been of Arabic origin, but then the pictures are based on somebody elses imagination or interpretation. The word used in the Bible is "Magi" a specific title referring to the priestly caste of Zoroastrianism. In Matthew, it is written that the three Magi came from the East. The most probable place where the Magi could have come is from Persia or present day Iran, where Zoroaster began around 500-600 BCE. Zoroasterism is still practiced in Iran at present although in the minority. (MORE) 
