Browsing by Subject "Asceticism"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

Open Access
A life above reproach: stylites in Byzantium (5th to 12th centuries)
(2023-11) Nergiz, Ayşe
This thesis delves into Byzantine stylites and their ascetic practices within the 'Spatial Turn,' unveiling the interplay of asceticism, religious symbolism, and spatial dynamics in the Byzantine Empire. First, by applying Henri Lefebvre's spatial triad model, this research examines literary spaces through a concentrated analysis of the travel and movement narratives within the hagiographic accounts of three stylites from the fifth to twelfth centuries: Symeon the Elder, Daniel the Stylite, and Lazaros of Mount Galesion. The aim is to illustrate the contribution of literary spatial elements to the formation of the sacred identities of stylites. Subsequently, attention turns to the examination of material remnants, focusing on the spatial arrangements of Qal’at Sim’an and souvenir tokens from the religious site. The goal is to unveil the interconnected relationship between space and stylite. By integrating both literary and material perspectives, this thesis aims to highlight the multifaceted spatial features of Byzantine stylites.
Open Access
Adapting, defending and transforming ourselves: conceptualizations of self practices in the social science literature
(Sage Publications Ltd., 2015) Karakayali, N.
Self practices – mental and bodily activities through which individuals try to give a shape to their existence – have been a topic of interest in the social science literature for over a century now. These studies bring into focus that such activities play important roles in our relationship to our social environment. But beyond this general insight we still do not have a framework for elucidating what kind of roles/uses have been attributed to self practices by social theorists historically. Through an analysis of the works of 5 major contributors to the literature (Durkheim, Mauss, Simmel, Giddens and Foucault), the article highlights three distinct conceptualizations, which draw attention to the adaptive, defensive and transformative uses of self practices. Adaptive uses allow individuals to adjust their conduct to collective norms; defensive uses serve the maintenance and protection of self-identity despite de-individualizing pressures; and transformative self practices target the development of alternative ways of living. It is further suggested that the framework developed in the article can provide important clues about the different ‘practical’ solutions offered by social theorists to the problems that modern individuals face in constituting themselves as autonomous subjects.
Open Access
A life on top : a survey of stylite saints
(2003) Aykanat Çam, İlke
This thesis presents the available information about the stylite saints who lived during the Byzantine period within the borders of modern Turkey. Stylites are Christian ascetics who lived on top of columns. There are over a hundred stylites mentioned in written sources, who lived between the fifth century and the nineteenth century. The vast amount of information is diverse ranging from historical and literary evidence to art historical and archaeological remains. This evidence is evaluated in order to present the circumstances that led to the invention of stylitism and outline a stylite’s daily life. Later, the iconography of stylites is discussed. The last section of the work is reserved to the Monastery of St. Simeon the Younger in Samandağı near Antioch. The author hopes that this work has contributed to this interdisciplinary subject for the use of future studies.