TIRIDATES, THE PERSIAN MAGI KING WHO INSPIRED THE EARLY CHRISTIANS (1st Century)
Tiridates, son of the Parthian King Vonones II, was a Persian Zoroastrian Magus. He was crowned King of Armenia in the year 66 by Emperor Nero during his official visit to Rome. The city had been adorned for the occasion with flags, torches, and garlands in his honor. During this visit, Tiridates made reference to Nero with ceremonies of the Magi. The early Christians, including the apostle Peter, who were also in the capital of the Roman Empire at the same time, would have witnessed a true Magi king. Tiridates would serve as a model of inspiration for the earliest representations of the Magi from the Nativity, depicted in traditional Persian attire, including fitted trousers or anaxyrides, knee-length tunics with a scalloped bottom, and a short cloak draped over one shoulder, marked by stripes. In the early centuries of Christianity, the Magi were shown wearing the Phrygian cap, like Tiridates.