The Theban Legion figures in Christian hagiography as a Roman legion from Egypt —"six thousand six hundred and sixty-six men" — consisting of Christian soldiers
who were martyred together in 286, according to the hagiographies of Maurice, the chief among the Legion's saints. Their feast day is held on September 22.
Saint Gereon of the Theban Legion and soldier companions, Stefan Lochner, c. 1440
Statue of Saint Maurice; leader of the Theban Legion.
Coptic icon of Theban Legion
Saint Maurice
Maurice was an Egyptian military leader who headed the legendary Theban Legion of Rome in the 3rd century, and is one of the favourite and most widely venerated saints of that martyred group. He is the patron saint of several professions, locales, and kingdoms.
Saint Maurice (center) by Matthias Grünewald c. 16th century
Coptic icon of St.Maurice and Theban Legion
Dying Saint Maurice, detail of a stained-glass by Józef Mehoffer, 1898–1899, Fribourg Cathedral
18th century Baroque sculpture of Saint Maurice on the Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc, which was a part of the Austrian Empire in that time, now the Czech Republic.