Mosaic of the Magi leading centuries of Christians to offer their gifts to Christ

Remembering the visit of the Magi/Epiphany at this time of year reminds me of this panoramic 6th-century mosaic from Ravenna:

Magi leading a procession through church history

Here, as the wikipedia page tells us, we see "a procession of the 22 Virgins of the Byzantine period, led by the Three Magi, moving from the city of Classe towards the group of the Madonna and Child surrounded by four angels. (The Magi in this mosaic are named Balthasar, Melchior and Gaspar; this is thought to be the earliest example of these three names being assigned to the Magi in Christian art.)" The virgins, like the Magi before them, are bringing gifts and presenting them to Christ.

In other words (or in my words), the artist uses the story of the Magi bringing their gifts as a metaphor through which the story of Christians in Ravenna at that time is embedded within a larger narrative of redemption in Christ. Ever since the time of the Magi believers have been bringing their gifts to Christ in worship.

One episode from Matthew's Gospel used as a metaphor to summarize Christian worship from the time of the Magi to the worship of the city of Ravenna in the 6th century.