The coming of Gog and Magog. Identifications of the Antichrist´s offspring between the Apocalyptic tradition, Late Antiquity and Middle Ages

Abstract

Beginning with Bible sources like Ezekiel and the Book of Revelation of John, from the 4th Century the offspring of the Antichrist –the peoples led by Gog and Magog– was identified with the Goths who attacked the Roman Empire, who in turn had been assimilated with the ancient Getae and Scythian. On these pages we undertake the analysis of the sources where that identification is present, with the meaning of announcing that the end of times prophesied in the Book of Revelation was already there, approa­ching hand in hand with the Goths; and similarly, we will study the causes of those identifications. We also draw other perspectives on the same old vision throughout the Middle Ages and in different areas of Europe, perspectives that contributed to aggravate an already confusing overview of ancient and medieval, mythical and real regions and peoples. Finally, we will even see some examples of the 16th century, highlighting especially the presence of other people considered member of the progeny of the Antichrist, the Turks. These were assimilated in the same way with the ancient Getae, when their threatening expansion in Europe and the Mediterranean seems to announce the arrival of the Apocalypse and the end of times.