Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, "Arculf" to "Armour, Philip" Volume 2, Slice 5

Set in the early eighth century, this entry recounts the remarkable journey of Arculf, a Gallican bishop who ventured into the Levant around 680. After an unexpected detour to Britain, he recounted his observations to the abbot Adamnan, and the narrative soon reached the court of King Aldfrith and the chronicler Bede. The account offers a rare, contemporary glimpse of Jerusalem’s sacred sites, the column marking the world’s centre, and the surrounding regions of Judaea, Samaria and Galilee.

Beyond the Holy Land, Arculf describes bustling Alexandria, the illuminated Pharos, and the imperial streets of Constantinople, even noting the caliph’s cordial relations with Christians. His own sketches of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Mount Zion and Jacob’s Well provide vivid visual context for listeners. The encyclopedia entry situates this travelogue within a broader scholarly tradition, highlighting its influence on medieval pilgrimage literature and its role as a primary source for early Islamic‑era geography.