The Parthian Empire to which Melchior belonged was a potential threat to its neighbor, the Roman Empire. So Melchior had to leave part of his escort before entering the Roman Empire. “12 Persian princes left an army of 7000 men on the banks of the Euphrates” says James of Edessa (7th century), referring to the Three Wise Men. Michael the Syrian (12th c.) Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church specifies that the Persian delegation of the Magi “had arrived at Calanicos (Callinic) or Ragha (Raqqa), a place situated on the banks of the Euphrates. In order not to alarm the country, they left the bulk of their suite and only 12 of them entered, with a thousand horsemen.”