St. Simeon (6th century AD) was a Syrian Christian hermit. He was the first and probably the most famous of the long succession of stylitoe, or "pillar-hermits" (also known as "stylites"), who during more than six centuries acquired by their strange form of asceticism a reputation for holiness throughout the eastern Christian Church. A stylite or pillar-saint is a type of Christian ascetic who lives on pillars, preaching, fasting and praying. Elihu Vedder was an American symbolist painter, book illustrator, and poet, born in New York City. He is best known for his fifty-five illustrations for Edward FitzGeralds translation of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. .