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Antony the Great

Also: Antony of Egypt, Anthony the Great, Antony the Hermit

Born by tradition in 251, probably in Koma (now Qiman al-Arus, Egypt). Died probably in 356, in Mount Colzim, the Inner Mountain (now Monastery of Saint Anthony, Red Sea desert, Egypt).

An Egyptian who gave away his goods and went to live alone in the desert. The Life that Athanasius wrote of him made the monastic life known everywhere.

Wrote in Coptic. A major author.

The letters are in Coptic in origin; they survive in Georgian, Latin, Arabic and other versions.

Places lived

  1. 251 to 271Koma (now Qiman al-Arus, Egypt)born, youthyears by tradition, place probable
  2. 285 to 305Pispir, the Outer Mountain (now Deir el-Maimun, Egypt, the usual identification)hermityears by tradition, place probable
  3. 313 to 356Mount Colzim, the Inner Mountain (now Monastery of Saint Anthony, Red Sea desert, Egypt)hermityears probable

Works

1 work, in the order they were written. 0 works can be read here.

How we know the dates and places
Born by tradition
Athanasius, Life of Antony 89 (he died aged 105), counted back from 356
Place of birth probable
Sozomen, Church History 1.13 (the village Koma); Life of Antony 1 says only "Egyptian"
Died probable
Jerome, Chronicle, at the year 356
Place of death sure
Athanasius, Life of Antony 89 to 92
Koma, years by tradition
Athanasius, Life of Antony 1 to 3; Sozomen, Church History 1.13
Koma, place probable
Athanasius, Life of Antony 1 to 3; Sozomen, Church History 1.13
Pispir, the Outer Mountain, years by tradition
Athanasius, Life of Antony 12 to 14 (about twenty years in an empty fort)
Pispir, the Outer Mountain, place probable
Athanasius, Life of Antony 12 to 14 (about twenty years in an empty fort)
Mount Colzim, the Inner Mountain, years probable
Athanasius, Life of Antony 49 to 51 and 89 to 92
Mount Colzim, the Inner Mountain, place sure
Athanasius, Life of Antony 49 to 51 and 89 to 92