The word stylite comes from the Greek word stylos, which means pillar. Therefore, a stylite is literally a pillar dweller: a type of Christian ascetic who would live atop a pillar, preaching, fasting, and praying, while enduring exposer to all weather conditions. Stylites were common in the early days of the Byzantine Empire, with St. Simeon the Stylite being the most famous. He climbed a pillar in Syria in 423 AD and remained there until his death 37 years later.
