medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Marjorie Greene <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>Do we "know" why this type of behavior appealed to anyone - specifically, why
it was considered "holy" or spiritually fruitful? I understand the value of
preaching - but why live on top of a column?
hey, it's a more-than-somewhat kinky religion.
my understanding of *one* factor, which perhaps doesn't explain why they
climbed up there in the first place, but does go a bit down the road towards
understanding the subsequent popularity of the various Stylites artistes is
the notion (which i believe i got from Russell's work on Late Antique
Population) that tuberculosis --among other infectious diseases-- was
absolutely *rampant* throughout the Late Empire, esp. in the megalopolio of
the East.
a fellow permenantly installing himself thirty/fifty feet above the teeming
masses had a *much* better chance of living to a ripe age than any of the mere
groundlings --provided, of course, he could get some of the latter to service
his food basket regularly, preferably early on in his career.
after a couple of decades he was, as it were, home free, nothing suceeding
like sucess. after a full generation had, literally, passed, the guy was
bound to be a Legend in His Own Time.
of course, their longevity *could* have been due to "miracles," i suppose.
best from here,
christopher
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