Legion, also known as the Gadarene demon, or is translated as Lots, is a demon found in the Christian Bible in Mark 5:9 and Luke 8:30. A parallel version of the story can be found in Matthew 8:28-34, but this version does not contain the name "Legion" and tells of two men, not just one, possessed by a multitude of demons. In the story, Jesus travelled to "the country of the Gadarenes" (Gergesenes in Matthew) and met a man possessed by an evil spirit, which spoke to Jesus in a conversation. The most commonly quoted version is found in Mark 5:9:
- And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. (KJV)
Another version of the quote is in Luke 8:30:
- And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. (KJV)
The demons that composed Legion were aware of the tremendous power of Jesus, and begged to be spared from being tossed back into the bottomless pit of hell. Jesus instead cast the demons out of the man and, granting their request, allowed them to dwell in a herd of pigs. The pigs then drowned themselves in the Sea of Galilee.
John Dominic Crossan believes the story may be considered a parable of anti-Roman resistance. This would explain why the Gospels variously situate the story in Gadara, Gerasa and Gergesa: All three are disguises for Caesarea, the location of the actual events behind the story. Even if the story is taken to be historically factual, some of the details may be exaggerated. For example, pigs are excellent swimmers, and the ones who jumped into the lake may well have survived. (See Umm Qais).
David Icke and Joseph Atwill in his book Caesar's Messiah, believes that the story is a representation of Titus Vespasianus, as the messiah, and the invading Roman Legions in dealing with the Zealots and their insurrection in Caesarea.
See also
- The phrase "My name is Legion" is often referenced in popular culture.
- Legion is also mentioned (and can be considered a character) in several Stephen King novels including It, Storm of the Century, and The Stand: Complete and Uncut Edition.
- Legion was mentioned in J.D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye. He is referred to as "The lunatic who lived in the tombs and cut himself with stones." Holden liked him 10 times more than the disciples.
- The Gospel of Mark, at Wikisource
- The Gospel of Luke, at Wikisource
- The television series Red Dwarf had an episode entitled "Legion" in which the crew encounter a character called Legion. He bore the personalities of the four crew members (including their faces when his mask was removed).
- Legion is the name of one of the demons who possess Emily Rose in the movie The Exorcism of Emily Rose.
- Legion is the name of an album by the satanic death metal band Deicide
- Legion served as the basis of a recurring boss in the Castlevania series
- Legion is mentioned in the novel, "The Exorcist" by William Peter Blatty as well as the film version.
- Legion is the title of the little known "sequel" to the book, "The Exorcist" by William Peter Blatty.
- Legion is the stage-name of Erik Hagstedt, ex-singer of Swedish Black Metal act Marduk and actual Rebelangels.
- Writer Siri Hustvedt connects the words of the possessed lunatic in the Bible with the role of the writer in the ultimate essay of her collection "A Plea for Eros" (2006). Paraphrasing her, one could say that voices from dark places in writers' minds is what makes literature.
- Legion is the main antagonist of the Shadowman video games, who attempted to manipulate the game's namesake into finding and acquiring the various dark souls locked away in Deadside for him, so he could empower himself and his armies to wreak havoc on Earth (Liveside). He is clearly intended to be THE Legion of biblical times, and often uses his catchphrase as a motivational chant to instill confidence in himself and his minions in their own invincibility.
- Legion (David Charles Haller) was the son of Charles Xavier, he was born a mutant although of a higher degree. He is noted for having numerous psychic abilities including telekinetic, telepathic and pyrokinetic which is in line with popular notions of Legion being multi-personal or being numerous, of the many.
- Legion appears, under another name, in the novel John Dies at the End. In this story he calls himself Shitload, explaining: "Just call me 'Shitload.' Because there's a shitload of us in here."