[SedVictaCatoni]

Who knows how many there were. It could have been two. It could have been dozens.

Well, I think that the New Testament account probably would have mentioned it if dozens of Persian mystics had abruptly showed up. That likely would have been the most startling sight ever to occur in Bethlehem.

[HiTech RedNeck]

In Bethlehem itself, maybe. But on the hillsides out in the country I beg to differ. Not some whizbang hairsplitting Jewish philosopher, but outcast ruffian redneck sheepherders (yeehaw!), those were the ones that God first picked to hear the news. Courtesy of a downright righteous passel of angels.

[DryFly]

Well it was an impressive enough caravan to get Herod's attention, seeing how he then ordered that all male children under two years of age be killed so that his rival would be eliminated.

[Cronos]

Well, I think that the New Testament account probably would have mentioned it if dozens of Persian mystics had abruptly showed up. That likely would have been the most startling sight ever to occur in Bethlehem.

It might also have caused quite a bit of alarm -- remember that the Romans were fighting against the Parthians then and they never defeated them until Trajan in 100AD of thereabouts.

Trajan is quite extraordinary -- he pushed the Empire down into the Persian Gulf and dreamed, like Alexander before him, of getting to India. Imagine if the Emperors following him had had the gumption to do so, and Roman law, discipline was passed onto lands as far east as India. This would have put a more united front against Islam. Oh,well, there's no sadder words in English than the ones "what if"