It alludes to the Roman Empire’s legions, by which the Empire has annexed many territories to itself (i.e., possessing them), jealously guarding what has been unjustly arrogated, and causing terror in its wake.111 This proposal has mileage but it would be wrong to think of the episode as simply an allegory of Roman occupation and oppression. Ancient people had no trouble believing in the power of evil spirits. What the legion of demons did to the man was similar to what the Empire did to the territory.