beside polemics, sophronius' writings included an encomium on the alexandrian martyrs cyrus and john in gratitude for an extraordinary cure of his failing vision. he also wrote 23 anacreontic (classical metre) poems on such themes as the muslim siege of jerusalem and on various liturgical celebrations. his "anacreontica" 19 and 20 seem to be an expression of the longing desire he had of the holy city, possibly when he was absent from jerusalem during one of his many journeys. the order of the two poems has to be inverted to establish a correct sequence of the diverse subjects. arranged in this way, the two poems describe a complete circuit throughout the most important sanctuaries of jerusalem at the end of the 6th century, described as the golden age of christianity in the holy land. themes of anacreonticon 20 include the gates of jerusalem (or solyma), the anastasis, the rock of the cross, the constantinian basilica, mount sion, the praetorium, st. mary at the probatica, and gethsemane. the mount of olives, bethany, and bethlehem come next in anacreonticon 19.