Simeon Stylites was a Syrian Christian monk who lived during the late fourth and mid-fifth centuries. Born in Kozan, he became famous for his extreme asceticism, spending thirty-six years residing atop a pillar near Aleppo in modern-day Syria. This unique method of devotion, known as stylitism, was established by him and later adopted by many other monks. To distinguish him from other historical figures with the same name, he is often referred to as Simeon Stylites the Elder.