Greek Apocalypse of Daniel
Encyclopedia
The Greek Apocalypse of Daniel is an Christian
pseudepigraphic text (one whose claimed authorship is unfounded) attributed to the Biblical Daniel
and so associated with the Old Testament
, but not regarded as scripture by Jews
or any Christian
group. The canonical Book of Daniel
has much apocalyptic imagery, and this apocalyptic-style
text deals with a similar subject. It was rediscovered and published at the end of 19th century.
It shall not be confused with numerous other medieval works ascribed to Daniel
or to Methodius
, as the Syriac Apocalypse of Daniel of the seventh century, the Hebrew Apocalypse of Daniel of the twelfth century or the Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius
.
The Apocalypse of Daniel has been written in Greek
in the Byzantine Empire
on about the early years of the ninth century CE. The original date of certain elements could be centuries earlier than that of the document as a whole.
This text can be divided in two section. In the first one (chapters 1-7) the Byzantine–Arab War of the eighth century and the enthronement of Charlemagne
are predicted as a future events. The remaining chapters (8-14) are about the last years and the advent of the AntiChrist
, of which are described in details the origin and personal characteristics.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
pseudepigraphic text (one whose claimed authorship is unfounded) attributed to the Biblical Daniel
Daniel
Daniel is the protagonist in the Book of Daniel of the Hebrew Bible. In the narrative, when Daniel was a young man, he was taken into Babylonian captivity where he was educated in Chaldean thought. However, he never converted to Neo-Babylonian ways...
and so associated with the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
, but not regarded as scripture by Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
or any Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
group. The canonical Book of Daniel
Book of Daniel
The Book of Daniel is a book in the Hebrew Bible. The book tells of how Daniel, and his Judean companions, were inducted into Babylon during Jewish exile, and how their positions elevated in the court of Nebuchadnezzar. The court tales span events that occur during the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar,...
has much apocalyptic imagery, and this apocalyptic-style
Apocalyptic literature
Apocalyptic literature is a genre of prophetical writing that developed in post-Exilic Jewish culture and was popular among millennialist early Christians....
text deals with a similar subject. It was rediscovered and published at the end of 19th century.
It shall not be confused with numerous other medieval works ascribed to Daniel
Daniel
Daniel is the protagonist in the Book of Daniel of the Hebrew Bible. In the narrative, when Daniel was a young man, he was taken into Babylonian captivity where he was educated in Chaldean thought. However, he never converted to Neo-Babylonian ways...
or to Methodius
Methodius of Olympus
The Church Father and Saint Methodius of Olympus was a Christian bishop, ecclesiastical author, and martyr.-Life:Few reports have survived on the life of this first scientific opponent of Origen; even these short accounts present many difficulties. Eusebius does not mention him in his Church...
, as the Syriac Apocalypse of Daniel of the seventh century, the Hebrew Apocalypse of Daniel of the twelfth century or the Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius
Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius
The Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius is a 7th-century apocalypse that shaped the eschatological imagination of Christendom throughout the Middle Ages. The work was written in Syriac in the late 7th century, in reaction to the Islamic conquest of the Near East, and is falsely attributed to the...
.
The Apocalypse of Daniel has been written in Greek
Medieval Greek
Medieval Greek, also known as Byzantine Greek, is the stage of the Greek language between the beginning of the Middle Ages around 600 and the Ottoman conquest of the city of Constantinople in 1453. The latter date marked the end of the Middle Ages in Southeast Europe...
in the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
on about the early years of the ninth century CE. The original date of certain elements could be centuries earlier than that of the document as a whole.
This text can be divided in two section. In the first one (chapters 1-7) the Byzantine–Arab War of the eighth century and the enthronement of Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
are predicted as a future events. The remaining chapters (8-14) are about the last years and the advent of the AntiChrist
Antichrist
The term or title antichrist, in Christian theology, refers to a leader who fulfills Biblical prophecies concerning an adversary of Christ, while resembling him in a deceptive manner...
, of which are described in details the origin and personal characteristics.