On the trail of the three wise men

The story of the three wise men has been retold and embellished countless times during the past 2,000 years, but rarely has it been examined as thoughtfully as in a new documentary.

“Mystery of the Three Kings,” airing at 10 tonight on KCET, journeys from southern Arabia to Ethiopia as it explores the origins of the three wise men and the precious gifts they brought Jesus. Made by Atlantic Productions, the 60-minute program was directed by Giles Llewellyn-Thomas and narrated by Cherie Lunghi.

Combining location footage, interviews with biblical scholars, digital effects and dramatizations, the show retraces the enigmatic trio’s steps in a captivating style, even if, ultimately, the mystery is not entirely solved.

The “kings,” apparently, were not rulers but Persian Magi, esteemed astronomers and practitioners of a mystical religion who saw divine communication in dreams and the stars.

The Magi took the Star of Bethlehem -- which may in fact have been a lunar eclipse of Jupiter -- as heralding the birth of Jesus, the new “king of the Jews.” They set out on a long trip to pay homage to the baby Jesus, a journey that became more treacherous when the current king, Herod, got wind of it.

Along the way, the program delves into various questions about the story. A collector’s relatively recent discovery of an ancient coin, for example, helped lead scholars to the theory that Jesus may have been born on April 17, 6 BC. Jesus also may have been older than 12 days (by as much as two years) when the wise men found him (in a house rather than a manger).

Regardless, the story’s message of faith and exploration can’t be disputed.

As one scholar concludes, “This is a true story in the sense that it conveys values. It is not a story that is verifiable.”