Marco Polo in Central Asia: 09: Persia

Persia is an extensive province, anciently very rich and flourishing, but now in a great degree wasted and destroyed by the Tartars.  It contained a city called Sava [1] where from, three magi came to adore Jesus Christ when born at Bethlehem. [2]  In that city are buried the three in seperate tombs, above which is a square house carefully preserved.  Their hearts are still entire, with their hair and beards.  One was named Balthazar, the other Casper, and the third Melchior.  Messer Marco inquired often in that city about these three Magi, but no one could tell him anything, except that they were ancient kings, who were buried there.  They informed him, however, that three days journey farther was a tower called the castle of the fire-worshippers, because the men there venerate fire, and for the following reasons.  Anciently the three kings of that country went to adore a certain prophet, newly born, and carried three offerings, gold, incense and myrrh, to know if he were a king, a God, or a sage, for they say that, if he took gold he was a king; if incense he was a god, if myrrh he was a sage.  They went in one after another, and though they were of different ages and fashions he appeared to each of them exactly like himself.  When they came out and compared what they had seen, they wondered much, and they went in altogether, and the child then appeared to them what he really was, a boy of thirteen days old.  They presented to him three offerings, and he took them all, when they concluded that he was at once god, king and sage.  He presented to them a closed box, desiring them not to open it till their return home.  After having travelled a number of days, however, they were curious to see what was in the box, and opened it, when they found only a stone, which was meant to express that they should remain firm in the faith which they had received.  They did not understand this meaning, and despising the gift, threw it into a well, when immediately a great fire came down from heaven, and began to burn brightly.  When they saw this wonder they were quite astonished, and repented that they had thrown away the stone.  They however took a portion of the fire, carried it to their country, and placed it in their church, where they kept it continually burning.  They revere it as a god, and use it for burning all their sacrifices; and when at anytime it goes out, they repair to that well, where the fire is never extinguished, and from it bring a fresh supply.  This is that all the people of that country tell, and Messer Marco was assured of it by those castle, and therefore it is truth.  One of these kings was King of Saba, the other of Ava and the other of the castle. [ 3]Now let me tell you of Persia, its cities, and the actions and customs of the people.

Notes:-
1. Sava: Modern day Saveh, located in the Markazi province of Iran. Marco Polo describes Sava as a city of great beauty and prosperity.  Sava is a medieval European corruption of Saveh.  It is about 120 kilometres southwest of Tehran.
2. Magi: A group of Zorastrian priests who followed a star to Bethlehem.
3. Saba: Modern day Saveh. It was associated with the Queen Sheba.
4. Kingdom of Ava: The exact location is not identified. The story is based on biblical account in the Gospel of Mathew.

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