Pilgrims Token from the Citadel of Samaan in Syria By Hadrian Mr lijah Bar Isral http://www.marelijah.org
The word Samaan means Simeon in Arabic, and
marks the place of the basilica which began to be built where the pillar of Saint Simeon once stood, even incorporating parts of the pillar itself into the Altar. After the Islamic Conquest the entire complex was converted into a military citadel. This ceramic pilgrims token comes from the 5th Century, during which time the Byzantine Empire was still fiercely persecuting and murdering Monophysite Christians. Possessing this token of the Empire was not only a spiritual blessing and souvenir for the pilgrim, but also a get-home-free pass to prove ones Orthodoxy should one find oneself detained by imperial troops.
This small black ceramic token
shows an image of Saint Simeon Stylites meditating on his pillar, wearing the traditional robe of the Syrian ascetics. The ladder leaning against the column, serves as his connection to the Earth and to his disciples. A deacon on the ground below him holds up a crown, and to the right of the pillar there is an incense burner, like the one found at the basilica. The angels hold up crowns, representing martyrdom, an important symbol of this transitional age, whereby physical death was replaced by mortification of the flesh in the minds of the faithful.
http://www.unesco.org/culture/museum-for-dialogue/item/en/120/a mulet-for-pilgrims#sthas h.h122by S V.dpuf
He spent most of each day standing atop his pillar, with
his arms outstretched in a mode of worshipful faith and devotion to God. His ascetism made him famous around the world, and thousands of people joined him, congregated at the base of his pillar, and listening to his wisdom and unceasing prayers.
Terracotta pilgrims token (5th century
AD) from the Monastery of Saint Simeon Stylites at the Citadel of Sama'an, now in the National Museum of Damascus, Syria .
SOURCE:
Saint Simeon Stylites (386-459 AD) spent forty-two
years atop a pillar (i.e. a style) out where everyone could see him, at Sama'an, which was in his time a small village located on Lylon Mountain approximately 20 km south-west of Afrin, and forty kilometers north-west of Aleppo, Syria. He ate, slept, defecated, and did everything else in open air. When once he was asked why he was not ashamed he famously responded, shame is a delusion, since we are never alone, but always with God.