The Geography of the Monastic Cell in Early Egyptian Monastic Literature

摘要

EARLY Egyptian monasticism is frequently equated with fantastic storiesnand achievements of the great Desert Fathers. Nathaniel, for example,nnever left his cell for thirty-seven years, and Dorotheus remainednwithin his cell for sixty years. Both men were demonstrating theirncommitment to God, their willingness to embrace suffering, and their need tondiscipline themselves within the confines of the cell.n1nThe tales of mightynbattles with demons—most vivid in the Life of Antony—and of austerenasceticism—such as that of the young Zacharius who allowed his beautifulnskin to be eaten away by natron in order to dispel rumors that he wasnsexually involved with his father—have become components of thenmetanarrative of Egyptian monasticism.n2nConcerns about desire and sexual propriety also indicate that monastic communities were aware of the difficultiesnof celibacy in such close and intimate quarters.n3