There is some mystery over who Auletes was:
In some accounts, Auletes (Greek fluteplayer) was the father or brother of Ocnus, founder of Felsina.
Or
Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos Philopator Philadelphos was a king of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Ancient Egypt. He was commonly known as Auletes, referring to the king's love of playing the flute in Dionysian festivals. (Wikipedia)
"Auletes was amused by the antics of his crew when he instructed the steersman to change
course for land. They had arrived at their destination after weeks travelling down the Red
Sea.
He had been personally instructed to undertake this voyage by Ptolemy, the king of Egypt
himself. His constant need for incense had meant that Auletes had had to explore further
down the sea for new areas which might produce the precious resin. Ahead was a low
coastline lined with trees which might provide what he needed and having already done
several trips he could speak some of the native language.
After tying up the boat he told the crew to prepare to stay some weeks as they waited for
favourable winds to return them home. Going ashore he was quickly told he would be
allowed to trade his goods for frankincense. Going out to see the trees he saw that they were already cutting the bark for the mixture to ooze into pots. Only half the trees were cut and on asking why he was told some trees were never cut as the seeds from cut trees rarely
germinated.
When the winds turned he sailed again to Egypt and handed over the blocks of frankincense. He held back two to sell for himself. So expensive was this resin that he made a fortune by selling it to merchants going up the Mediterranean where incense was much in demand. These merchants unloaded their goods at Jaffa and used camels to go inland. Stopping at one of the caravanserai to rest for the night one small package dropped from a camel’s pack and was picked up by a slave child working there. He had heard the traders talking about the incense resin and how it was used by kings and statesmen. In the hostel were three well-dressed men discussing their journey northwards. They saw the half-starved slave boy and instructed the owner to feed him at their expense. The lad heard the three men say they were going to see a child king and wondering what gifts to give him.
The unnamed slave boy shyly approached them and handed a package to them saying he
understood the contents were used by kings. Opening it they saw the frankincense, and turned and thanked the boy.
The three men found the child king and then the sweet smell of frankincense was found to be coming from a stable."
Matthew 2:1-12 NRSV 2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men[a] from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising,[b] and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah[c] was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd[d] my people Israel.’” 7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men[e] and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising,[f] until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped,[g] they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
We remember Epiphany, as the time when we remember the visit of the Magi to the Christ child in Bethlehem. Have you already packed them away with your Nativity in church or in your homes, without them ever reaching their goal? Or does the Nativity stand out complete now, with the Magi gathered? Epiphany is rather a forgotten day for so many. When I was working in school I used to urge the school family to remember Epiphany and thus place the Magi into the crib scene, but every year it had been packed away for another year and the children never could experience this fact. Also the fact that Christmas wasn't just a day of celebration and remembering Jesus birth but twelve days of celebration.
The Epiphany is an ancient Christian feast day and is significant in a number of ways. In the East, where it originated, the Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. It also celebrates Jesus' birth.
The Western Church began celebrating the Epiphany in the 4th century where it was, and still is, associated with the visit of the magi (wise men) to the infant Jesus when God revealed himself to the world through the incarnation of Jesus. According to Matthew 2:11 they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
May the splendour of your majesty, O Lord, we pray, shed its light upon our hearts, that we may pass through the shadows of this world and reach the brightness of our eternal home. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN
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