Caspar | |
|---|---|
&sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:Gerard_David_-_Adoration_of_the_Kings_-_Google_Art_Project_(cropped)2.jpg) Detail of Caspar in Adoration of the Kings by Gerard David, c. 1515 | |
| Three Magi, Three Kings, Three Wise Men | |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church Anglican Communion Lutheran Church |
| Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
| Major shrine | Shrine of the Three Kings, Cologne Cathedral |
| Feast | 6 January (Epiphany) 11 January (Date of his death) |
| Attributes | King bearing gifts, king on a camel, three crowns |
| Patronage | Epilepsy, thunder, motorists, pilgrims, playing card manufacturers, sawmen, sawyers, travellers, travelling merchants, Cologne, Germany, Saxony |
Caspar (otherwise known as Casper, Gaspar, Kaspar, Jasper,[1] and other variations) was one of the 'Three Kings', along with Melchior and Balthazar, representing the wise men or Biblical Magi mentioned in Matthew 2:1-9. Although the Gospel does not specify who or what the Magi were, since the seventh century, the Magi have been identified in Western Christianity as Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. Caspar and the other two Magi are considered saints by the Catholic Church.
- ^ British Library register entry for Historiated Initial With The Adoration Of the Magi, In A Book Of Hours (1500): "According to tradition, there was one old magus, named Caspar or Jasper..."