Longest pole sitting overall

The record for the longest time someone has remained on top of a pole belongs to the monk, St Simeon the Stylite (c. AD 386–459), who spent approximately 39 years on a stone pillar on the Hill of Wonders, near Aleppo, Syria. His purpose was self-persecution for people's sins, and to be nearer God. The Church of St Simeon or Qalaat Samaan was built in honour of the monk and houses the ruins of the column.

St Simeon's pole-sitting feat is the longest-standing record chronicled in The Guinness Book of Records.

Apparently, the only time he came down was so the pole could be increased in height from 12 to 18 m (39 to 59 ft). All that is left of the stone column is a 2–3-m-high (6–10-ft) stump. The original diameter was approximately 2 m (6 ft 6 in).