Elevation

Elevations

Elevation concerns height and the relationship between higher and lower positions. English uses this spatial contrast to describe status ("rising through the ranks"), mood ("feeling low"), achievement ("reaching the top") and distance from everyday concerns ("having your head in the clouds"). These uses overlap, but they are not interchangeable.

A higher position can suggest success or authority, yet it can also be exposed, isolated or precarious. A lower position can suggest disadvantage, but "keeping your feet on the ground" is usually approving. The value of a position depends on the expression and its context.

In Metaphors of Movement, elevation is one feature of a person's description. Height, support and the surrounding scene matter alongside the words used. An elevation metaphor alone does not establish someone's social standing or emotional state.

The examples below bring together idioms, historical practices and cultural images. They illustrate several uses of vertical space rather than a single rule that "up" always means good and "down" always means bad.

Idioms of height, status and mood

"On top of the world" - This idiom means to feel extremely happy or successful, as if you are standing on the highest point in the world.

"At the summit" - This idiom refers to being at the highest point of a mountain or the peak of one's career.

"Top dog" - This idiom refers to the person or group that is in the highest position of authority or power.

"High and mighty" - This idiom refers to people who act as if they are better than others, often because of their elevated status.

"Head and shoulders above" - This idiom means to be significantly better than others in a particular area, suggesting that you are standing above them.

"King of the castle" - This idiom refers to the person who is in the highest position of authority or power.

"Living the high life" - This idiom refers to living a luxurious lifestyle, typically associated with people who have a high social or financial status.

"At the pinnacle" - This idiom refers to being at the very top or apex of something, suggesting a high level of achievement or success.

"Sitting on top of the world" - This idiom means to be extremely happy or successful, as if you are sitting on top of the highest point in the world.

"Up in the clouds" - This expression describes being dreamy, distracted or unrealistic; it does not imply wealth or social status.

"Ruling the roost" - This idiom refers to being in control or in charge, suggesting that you are at the top of a hierarchy or social structure.

"Above the fray" - This expression means remaining apart from an argument or conflict. It may suggest detachment or impartiality rather than authority.

"Reaching for the stars" - This idiom refers to having ambitious goals or aspirations, often associated with people who have achieved high levels of success.

"Lording it over" - This idiom refers to acting in a superior or dominant manner, often associated with people who have a high social or financial status.

"On cloud nine" - This idiom means to be extremely happy or excited, suggesting that you are floating above the world like a cloud.

"Sitting pretty" - This idiom refers to being in a comfortable or advantageous position, often associated with people who have a high level of wealth or status.

"The cream of the crop" - This idiom refers to the best or highest-quality people or things, suggesting that you are at the top of the hierarchy or social structure.

"Walking on air" - This idiom means to be extremely happy or excited, suggesting that you are floating above the ground like you are walking on air.

"Elevated status" - This idiom refers to having a high level of authority or power, often associated with people who have achieved significant success or social status.

"Looking down one's nose" - This idiom refers to looking at others with disdain or arrogance, often associated with people who feel superior or elevated in some way.

Low Status

Here are some idioms that involve descent and depict low status:

"Down in the dumps" - This idiom refers to feeling sad, depressed or low in spirit, suggesting that you are at the bottom of an emotional low.

"At rock bottom" - This idiom refers to being in the worst possible situation, suggesting that you have hit the lowest point.

"Low man on the totem pole" - This idiom refers to the person who is at the bottom of the hierarchy or social structure, often associated with people who have a low level of authority or power.

"Bottom of the barrel" - This idiom refers to being of low quality or value, often associated with people who are considered the worst or least desirable.

"In the gutter" - This idiom refers to being in a state of extreme poverty, suggesting that you are at the bottom of the social ladder.

"Under the thumb" - This idiom refers to being under the control or influence of someone else, suggesting that you have little power or authority.

"On the bottom rung" - This idiom refers to being at the lowest level of an organization or social structure, often associated with people who have just started out or have little experience.

"Down and out" - This idiom refers to being in a state of extreme poverty or destitution, suggesting that you have hit rock bottom.

"In the doghouse" - This idiom refers to being in trouble or out of favour with someone, suggesting that you are at the bottom of their good graces.

"In a pit" - This idiom refers to being in a low or disadvantaged position, often associated with people who have little social status or power.

"Underfoot" - This idiom refers to being ignored or treated as unimportant, often associated with people who are at the bottom of the social or professional hierarchy.

"In the shadows" - This idiom refers to being hidden or unnoticed, often associated with people who have little social or professional status.

"In the doldrums" - This idiom refers to being in a state of low spirits or energy, suggesting that you are stuck in a rut.

"In the depths of despair" - This idiom refers to being in a state of extreme sadness or hopelessness, suggesting that you are at the lowest point emotionally.

"At the bottom of the heap" - This idiom refers to being at the very bottom of a social or professional hierarchy, suggesting that you have little power or influence.

"In the gutter of society" - This idiom refers to being at the very bottom of society, often associated with people who have little education, job prospects or resources.

"Under the radar" - This idiom refers to being unnoticed or overlooked, suggesting that you are not important or influential.

"In the depths of poverty" - This idiom refers to being in a state of extreme financial hardship, suggesting that you have little access to resources or opportunities.

The Stylites

Simeon Stylites was a Syrian ascetic and monk who lived during the 5th century AD. He is best known for his unusual and extreme practice of living atop a column, which gained him widespread fame and admiration among his contemporaries.

He was born in 390 AD in a village near Antioch, Syria. He entered a monastery at a young age and quickly gained a reputation for his piety and devotion to the Christian faith. However, he soon became dissatisfied with the monastic lifestyle and began to seek out more extreme forms of asceticism.

In 423 AD, Simeon began his famous practice of living atop a column, which was situated in the middle of a small enclosure near the village of Telanissos. The column was about six meters high and only a meter wide, with a small platform at the top on which Simeon could stand or sit. He lived on this platform for the next 37 years, until his death in 460 AD.

Simeon's decision to live atop a column was inspired by the story of a Syrian monk who had done the same thing a few decades earlier. Simeon believed that this extreme form of asceticism would allow him to achieve a higher level of spiritual purity and bring him closer to God.

Despite his isolation, Simeon attracted a large following of admirers who would gather around the base of his column to hear him preach and seek his advice. He was especially popular among the local peasants, who saw him as a holy man with the power to heal their illnesses and solve their problems.

Simeon's fame spread throughout the Christian world, and he became a symbol of extreme asceticism and devotion. His example inspired many other monks and ascetics to adopt similar practices, and his story was recorded in numerous hagiographical texts.

The Stylite movement that followed Simeon Stylites was a phenomenon in which ascetics and monks would imitate his extreme form of asceticism by living atop a column or pillar.

After Simeon's death, his followers continued to venerate him as a holy man and sought to emulate his example by engaging in similar acts of extreme devotion. The practice of living on top of a column or pillar became known as "stylitism" and spread throughout the Eastern Christian world, particularly in Syria and Asia Minor.

Many of these stylites gained widespread fame and attracted large followings of admirers, who would gather around the base of their columns to hear them preach and seek their advice. Some stylites, such as St. Daniel the Stylite, who lived on top of a column for 33 years, became as famous and revered as Simeon himself.

The Stylite movement was not without its critics, however. Some members of the Church viewed the practice of living atop a column as a form of exhibitionism or self-aggrandizement and questioned whether it was truly in keeping with the teachings of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, the movement persisted and inspired generations of Christians to seek a deeper level of spiritual purity and devotion.

Pole Sitting

Pole sitting, which is similar to the practice of living atop a column or pillar, gained popularity in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s. The practice involved individuals sitting on top of tall poles for extended periods of time, as a form of endurance or publicity stunt.

One of the most famous pole sitters was Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly, who set numerous records for sitting on poles for extended periods of time. In 1924, he set a record by sitting on a pole for 12 days straight, and in 1929 he broke his own record by sitting on a pole for 23 days.

In more recent times, pole sitting has become less common, and is generally not seen as a religious or spiritual practice. However, there are still some individuals who undertake similar feats of endurance or extreme physical challenges as a form of personal or athletic achievement.

H. David Werder, a resident of California, made headlines in the early 1980s when he embarked on a pole-sitting protest against the high price of gasoline. From November 1982 to January 1984, Werder spent a total of 439 days sitting atop a 60-foot pole in a parking lot in San Pedro, California, as a form of political activism.

Werder's protest was a response to the high gasoline prices that were being charged by oil companies at the time. He saw his pole-sitting as a way to draw attention to the issue and to send a message to the government and the oil companies that he believed were responsible for the high prices.

During his time on the pole, Werder endured extreme weather conditions, including high winds, rain, and even a tornado. He received support from local residents and other activists who sympathised with his cause, but also faced criticism and ridicule from those who saw his protest as pointless or attention-seeking.

Despite the challenges, Werder remained committed to his cause, and his pole-sitting eventually became a symbol of resistance against corporate greed and political apathy. His protest ended on 21 January 1984, when he climbed down from the pole after receiving assurances from the government that they would take action to address the issue of high gasoline prices.

In 1955, the popular game show What's My Line, hosted by John Charles Daly, featured a unique and intriguing guest in its opening segment: a flagpole sitter. The guest, whose name is unknown, had gained notoriety for his feat of endurance and had captured the public's imagination with his daring and unusual act.

The appearance of the flagpole sitter on What's My Line was a testament to the impact that pole sitting had on American culture in the early 20th century. During the 1920s and 1930s, pole sitting was a popular form of entertainment, and many people attempted to set records for sitting on poles for extended periods of time.

Decades later, pole sitting continued to capture the public's imagination, as demonstrated by its inclusion in the popular television show M*A*S*H. In the season 5 episode entitled "Souvenirs," Corporal Klinger, the show's comedic relief, attempts to get a section 8 discharge by climbing a pole in the middle of the camp and refusing to come down until he is granted his wish.

Colonel Potter, played by Harry Morgan, sees an opportunity to turn the situation into a positive one and convinces Klinger to stay up on the pole long enough to break the Army record for pole sitting, which was 96 hours. The episode, which aired in 1976, was a lighthearted take on the enduring appeal of pole-sitting and its ability to capture the public's imagination.

Elevations as Places of Sacrifices

Elevations and high places have long been associated with religious and spiritual significance, and have often been considered as places of sacrifice. Throughout history, various cultures have believed that high places or elevated locations were closer to the divine or supernatural realm, and therefore offered a more direct path to communication with the gods.

As a result, high places have frequently been used as locations for religious and sacrificial rituals. In many cultures, offerings or sacrifices were made on elevated altars or platforms to appease or communicate with the gods. This practice was particularly common in ancient religions, such as those of the Greeks, Romans, and Aztecs.

In some cases, high places were even used for human sacrifice, a practice that was widespread in ancient times. For example, the Aztecs practiced human sacrifice on the top of their pyramids, while the ancient Canaanites and Israelites sacrificed children on high places called bamot.

The association of high places with sacrifice has continued to modern times in some cultures. For example, in Hinduism, certain high places such as the Himalayas or Mount Kailash are considered sacred and are used for pilgrimage and offerings to the gods.

The connection between elevations and high places as sites of sacrifice is a longstanding and cross-cultural phenomenon. The belief that high places are closer to the divine realm has made them attractive locations for religious and spiritual practices, including sacrifice, throughout human history.

Related pages

• Stairs and Ladders
• Falling
• Rapunzel

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