Desert Christians:  The Rise of the Monastic Movement

The Landscape of Egypt, Traditional Birthplace of Monasticism

Sharp Contrast between Desert & Settled Land

The Desert:  Home only to demons and monks who do battle with them

Turning your back on the world

Monks made their home in the shadow of ancient paganism

Monastery temple of Hatshepsut, Deir el-Bahri; transformed into a monastery in the 5th century

Taking flight to where the demons live: Karnak temple, Luxor

Visions of demons coming out of the wall

St. Antony (in later imagination)

The Temptation of St. Antony (Schongauer)

Antony and the Demons (Grunewald)

Coptic monks' graffiti, carved on the Ptolemaic temple at Deir el-Medina

The "Desert Fathers" below Christ and the Apostles

Coptic Monastery of St. Bishoi, Wadi Natrun (founded in 5th century; buildings from 9th century)

Monastery of St. Catherine at Mt. Sinai (founded by Emperor Justinian, 6th century)

Sixth-Century Monastery in Palestine