The Star of Bethlehem 
Subtitle: The Legacy of the Magi
Publisher: Rutgers University Press
Published: October 1999
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 187
ISBN-13: 9780813527017
Subjects: Astrology; Popular astronomy; The historical Jesus; Religion; Christology; Science; History: World; Astronomy - General; History; Christianity - Theology - General; Christian Theology - General; Astrology, Greek; Star of Bethlehem
First sentence: When winter nights grow long, our lives are brightened by the celebration of Christmas.
Description: "For two millennia, scientists have searched the heavens in vain for an astronomical explanation of the Star of Bethlehem. Intrigued by the image of a ram looking back at a star that he found on the latest addition to his coin collection, Michael Molnar thought there might be more to learn by looking, instead, at the theories of ancient astrologers.".

"Aries the ram looking back at the star, he argues, is connected to astrological beliefs of the Magi, the Three Wise Men, and has much to tell us about this regal portent. At the time of Christ's birth, Aries was a symbol of Judea. Ancient astrologers, such as the Magi, believed that a new king would be born when the moon passed in front of Jupiter - an eclipse that would herald the Messiah's coming. Could the coin have been issued as a response to the Great Messianic Portent, the Star of Bethlehem?".

"Molnar combined his training in astronomy with his knowledge of astrology and deduced that the Star of Bethlehem could have appeared only when Jupiter was "in the East." Modern-day computer wizardry enabled him to chart an eclipse of Jupiter in Aries on April 17, 6 B.C., a day when Jupiter was, in fact, in the east, thus confirming his theory. The hypothesis was supported by additional findings as well.

A Roman astrologer, he found, had described the conditions of the day as those befitting the birth of a "divine and immortal" person."--BOOK JACKET.