I read a long time ago that a man in either ancient greece or rome lived on a mountain or pillar for many many decades. I remember reading this in the guiness world records.
The habit of living on top of a pillar, supposedly for years at a time, was taken on by some Christian ascetics after the 5th century following the example of Simeon Stylites who supposedly lived on a pillar for 37 years. Such ascetics are termed "stylites."