The Star of Bethlehem

On careful and unprejudiced reading, the legend of the Star of Bethlehem (Matthew 2) seems to report a rather unspectacular heliacal rising of Venus. This suggestion is supported by Revelation 22:16, where Jesus calls himself “the shining morning star”. John’s vision of the apocalyptic woman in Revelation 12 indicates that the rising of the morning star took place during the time of Virgo (the virgin), close to a new moon, and, if possible, on the day of the Jewish New Year. It is intriguing that around 2 BCE there actually was a date that fulfilled all these conditions. The author studies the symbolism of this celestial configuration in ancient religions and astrology and works out its connection with the birth of the Messiah. It is to be debated whether this date for his birth is realistic, or whether early Christian writers chose it because of its symbolism.