Egyptian Coptic Barsom Al-Arian bin Soma bin Al-Tabban was a writer, monk and was even considered a saint. He served as a writer for Queen Shajar Al-Durr (1249-1257 AD), the wife of Izz al-Din Aybak. He also founded the state of the Mamluks and became one of the first of the Mamluk sultans. Al-Arian became a monk after moving to Shahran Monastery outside Cairo, where cold, heat and temperance were his companions. He remained there until his death in 1317.