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having found Jesus by following a star, lay before him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and worship him
Zoroastrian Magus carrying barsom from the Oxus Treasure of the Achaemenid Empire, 4th century BC
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barsom
A barsom is a ritual implement used by Zoroastrian priests to solemnize certain sacred ceremonies.
Hereditary Zoroastrian priesthood has survived in India and Iran. They are termed Herbad, Mobad (Magupat, chief of the Maga), and Dastur depending on the rank.
Dimensions
Both scripture and tradition are precise with respect to the dimensions of the twigs required. Yasna 57.5 mandates that each twig shall not exceed "the height of the knee," and Vendidad 19.19 (supported by the Nirangistan) requires each rod to be at most the length of an aesha and the thickness of the width of a yava. Darmesteter translates aesha as "ploughshare" and yava as barley-corn. A twig/rod was thus at most about 7 mm thick. The Nirangstan further adds that the thickness may not be less than that of a human hair.
The barsom that appears in Achaemenid and Sassanid art "was of impressive size, about 45 cm (1+1⁄2 ft) long, made up apparently of stiff straight rods."
Number
The number of twigs/rods depends on the ritual being performed, and the Shayast-na Shayast (14.2) unambiguously states that this number must be adhered to. A recitation of the Yasna liturgy is accompanied by a bundle of 21 twigs, with two others being placed by the side of another ritual implement. The Vendidad requires 33 twigs in the bundle with two other placed as for the Yasna. A recitation of the Visperad requires 35 twigs, with none left over. The number similarly varies for other rituals, all of these however only requiring between 3 and 15 twigs.
Binding
In present-day use, the rods almost always remain unbound. The one exception comes near the end of the baj ceremony for the dead, when they are bound with a strip of date palm leaf.