Gary Vikan

John Phokas (Byzantine Greek: Ἰωάννης Φωκᾶς, romanized: Iōánnēs Phōkâs, IPA: [i.oˈan.nis foˈkas]) or Phocas (Medieval Latin: Johannes Phocas, IPA: [joˈan.nes ˈfɔː.kas]) was a 12th-century Byzantine pilgrim to the Holy Land. He wrote an account of his travels, the so-called Ekphrasis or Concise Description of the Holy Places, which has been called "the most elegant of Palestinian pilgrimage accounts". Doubt has recently arisen over whether Phokas was in fact the author of the Ekphrasis, which has…